Pte
Francis Charles Baker

Informations sur naissance

Date de naissance:
06/09/1896
Lieu de naissance:
Kara, Ohura, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand

Informations générales

Profession:
Telegrafist

Informations service militaire

Pays:
New Zealand
Force armée:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Rang:
Private
Numéro de service:
44246
Incorporation date:
27/11/1916
Incorporation nom de lieu:
Wanganui, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand
Unités:
 —  New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Bn.  (Dernière unité connue)

Informations sur décès

Date de décès:
08/12/1917
Lieu de décès:
Polderhoek, Belgique
Cause du décès:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Âge:
21

Cimetière

Polygon Wood Cemetery
Parcelle: Inconnu
Rangée: G
Tombe: 14

Distinctions et médailles 2

British War Medal
Médaille
Victory Medal
Médaille

Points d'intérêt 3

#1 Lieu de naissance
#2 Lieu d'enrôlement
#3 Lieu du décès (approximatif)

Mon histoire

Private Francis Charles Baker, a 21-year old former telegraph cadet, served as a rifleman in the New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, part of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade, of the New Zealand Division. On the 1st of December 1917, The Brigade relieved the 4th Brigade in the Becelaere Sector. The 1st Battalion relieved the 3rd Otago Battalion on the right, the 4th Battalion took over from 3rd Canterbury on the left, the 3rd Battalion consolidated in a new support position in Dead Mule Gully, behind Polygonveld, and the 2nd Battalion at Halfway House and Railway Wood, about a mile north-west of Hooge. The Brigade Headquarters moved up to Butte. The Brigade was now well settled in the Ypres Salient.

On the 3rd of December 1917, the 2nd Brigade carried out an attack on the Polderhoek Chateau position that posed a constant menace to the flank posts of the 3rd Brigade. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions of the 3rd Brigade prepared for the operation, earning the special commendation of the Divisional Commander. Under shell-fire, 650 men from the Units carried 1,300 six-inch Newton bombs over a distance of nearly three miles. Although not all objectives were met, the front line was slightly advanced. On the night of the 9th/10th December, the Brigade was relieved by the 2nd Brigade and became Brigade in support, with one Battalion, the 3rd, in the front line.

Rifleman Francis Charles Baker was killed in action on the 8th of December 1917. He fell during the attack in the Polderhoek Chateau area. He is remembered at Polygon Wood Cemetery.

Fichiers 1

Sources 7

"The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade (The Earl of Liverpool's Own)", Austin w.S., Wellington, Watkins, 1924, pg. 255-256
Sources utilisées
Archway Archives
http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/
Sources utilisées
Auckland Cenotaph
https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C612?w=World+War+I%2c+1914-1918&n=baker&cem=Polygon+Wood+Cemetery%2c+Zonnebeke%2c+West-Vlaanderen%2c+Belgium&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch&ordinal=0
Sources utilisées
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/
Sources utilisées
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?firstName=Francis%2BCharles&lastName=Baker&serviceNumber=44246
Sources utilisées
NZEF-project
http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/search
Sources utilisées
The long,long Trail
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army
Sources utilisées