L/Cpl
Ernest Baker
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1886 |
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Place of birth: Bolton, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Storekeeper |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 455 |
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Enlistment date: 30/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Mildura, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 38th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 12/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Keerselaarhoek, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXVI Row: F Grave: 8 |
Distinctions and medals 3
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1914-15 Star Medal |
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Ernest Baker was born in 1886 in Bolton, Lancashire, United Kingdom. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Baker. However, the Baker family did not remain in the United Kingdom and moved to Australia. There, Ernest took up the profession of a shopkeeper. On 30 March 1916, Ernest went to the recruitment depot to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He was assigned to A Company, 38th Battalion.
On 12 October 1917, the men of the 38th Battalion participated again in the Battle of Passchendaele. This time, it was during the first attempt to capture the village. Eight days earlier, they had fought in the Battle of Broodseinde, where the ridge had been taken. On 12 October, their objective was a line just east of Passchendaele.
At 22:45 on 11 October, the battalion departed for the front lines. During the journey, they immediately encountered heavy artillery fire, resulting in the first casualties. By 3 a.m. the following day, they had reached the starting positions. Two platoons from A Company were to attack along the right flank, and two platoons from B Company along the left flank. They were followed by clearing parties from D Company. The remaining platoons of A and B Company formed the second wave, followed by clearing parties from C Company.
While waiting for the start, the Australians again came under artillery fire, resulting in further casualties. At 5:25 a.m., the attack began. The battalion advanced in the footsteps of the 40th Battalion. They soon came under fire from bunkers in the Bellevue sector. A group led by Private James Richard Munday succeeded in silencing some of the bunkers. However, this had little impact on the outcome of the battle. Later, the survivors from the 38th, 37th, and 40th Battalions gathered, and the order was given to retreat to the starting positions. The casualty count had risen to the point where further actions were impossible. By 3 p.m., the survivors were back in their starting positions. The next day, the battalion was relieved by the 41st Battalion.
The battle on 12 October proved costly for the 38th Battalion. The losses were as follows: 11 killed, 270 wounded, and 101 missing. Ernest was initially reported as missing but was later declared killed in action. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVI, Row F, Grave 8.
On 12 October 1917, the men of the 38th Battalion participated again in the Battle of Passchendaele. This time, it was during the first attempt to capture the village. Eight days earlier, they had fought in the Battle of Broodseinde, where the ridge had been taken. On 12 October, their objective was a line just east of Passchendaele.
At 22:45 on 11 October, the battalion departed for the front lines. During the journey, they immediately encountered heavy artillery fire, resulting in the first casualties. By 3 a.m. the following day, they had reached the starting positions. Two platoons from A Company were to attack along the right flank, and two platoons from B Company along the left flank. They were followed by clearing parties from D Company. The remaining platoons of A and B Company formed the second wave, followed by clearing parties from C Company.
While waiting for the start, the Australians again came under artillery fire, resulting in further casualties. At 5:25 a.m., the attack began. The battalion advanced in the footsteps of the 40th Battalion. They soon came under fire from bunkers in the Bellevue sector. A group led by Private James Richard Munday succeeded in silencing some of the bunkers. However, this had little impact on the outcome of the battle. Later, the survivors from the 38th, 37th, and 40th Battalions gathered, and the order was given to retreat to the starting positions. The casualty count had risen to the point where further actions were impossible. By 3 p.m., the survivors were back in their starting positions. The next day, the battalion was relieved by the 41st Battalion.
The battle on 12 October proved costly for the 38th Battalion. The losses were as follows: 11 killed, 270 wounded, and 101 missing. Ernest was initially reported as missing but was later declared killed in action. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVI, Row F, Grave 8.
Sources 2
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38th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/55/17). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1356455?image=2 Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, BAKER E). https://www.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7333332 |
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461800 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=11174 |