William BAKER

BAKER, William

Service Number: 373
Enlisted: 23 September 1914, Melbourne, Victoria
Last Rank: Corporal
Last Unit: 9th Light Horse Regiment
Born: Murchison South, Victoria, May 1893
Home Town: Colbinabbin, Campaspe, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Farmer
Died: Killed in Action, Es Salt, Palestine , 3 May 1918
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Jerusalem Memorial, Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Colbinabbin Roll of Honour WW1, Colbinabbin Uniting Church Corporal William Baker Memorial Plaque, Colbinabbin War Memorial, Jerusalem Memorial
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World War 1 Service

23 Sep 1914: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 373, Melbourne, Victoria
11 Feb 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 373, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: ''
11 Feb 1915: Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 373, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne
16 May 1915: Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 373, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli
3 May 1918: Involvement AIF WW1, Corporal, 373, 9th Light Horse Regiment, Es Salt Raid, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 373 awm_unit: 9 Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-05-03

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Biography

"Lance-Corporal William Baker Killed.

During the week the sad news was received from the Defence Department that Lance-Corporal William Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Baker, Colbinabbin East, had been killed in action in Palestine on 3rd May. Lance-Corp. Baker was 25 years of age, and enlisted from Rushworth in September, 1914. He had seen three years and three months of active service up till the time of his death. He was a native of South Murchison." - from the Murchison Advertiser 24 May 1918 (nla.gov.au)

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

The following letter has been received by Mrs Geo. Baker, Colbinabbin, from Major Charley, a squadron leader of the Aust. Light Horse, in Palestine, and tells how her son, Corporal Baker, met his death : I thought you might like to get a note from someone who was there when your son met his death. I am his squadron leader. It all happened at 9:30 a.m. on the morning of the 3rd inst. Your boy had charge of a Hotchkiss rifle and was in the front line doing his duty when a sudden rush of the enemy came. They threw a bomb, which caught him and wounded the other members of his team and smashed his gun. He suffered no pain. It was all so sudden. Corporal Baker was one of the best lads in my squadron, and was loved by everyone. His mates held him in great esteem. He was so attentive to his duties, so full of courage and ability, so keen, enthusiastic and zealous, and was such a gentleman. He was wafted away suddenly doing his best in the execution of his duty. Please accept my sincere sympathy in your bereavement. Being his mother you will feel his loss so much. Try and take a little consolation in the fact that he died for his country; as so many thousands of others have done in this terrible war.   Yours Sincerely, W. T. CHARLEY, Major, 9th L.H., A.I.F.
Murchison Advertiser and Murchison, Toolamba, Mooroopna and Dargalong Express (Vic), 19 July 1918. 

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