BAKER, Albert Ilfred
| Service Number: | 2808 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 June 1915, at Keswick |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Malvern, South Australia, 14 August 1888 |
| Home Town: | Malvern, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Suicide - Gunshot Wound, Adelaide, South Australia, 30 May 1947, aged 58 years |
| Cemetery: |
Mitcham Cemetery, S.A. section L Plot 7 |
| Memorials: | Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2808, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Keswick | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2808, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
| 21 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2808, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Adelaide |
Fired shot at bird then shoots himself
Man Dies After River Shooting
The man who walked 100 yards to a St. Peters home with a bullet hole through his chest on Tuesday died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital today. He was Albert Baker, 59, single, racket repairer, of North terrace, City. Baker, who had been in ill health, told police that he went to the river bank, fired a shot at a bird to test his revolver, then shot himself and fell into the water. Plainclothes Constable Sutherland is preparing a report for the coroner.
News 30 May 1947 page 3
Submitted 28 January 2016 by Faithe Jones
Walks with bullet hole through his body
BULLET HOLE
ADELAIDE, Wed— Racket repairer Albert Baker (59), of North Terrace, Adelaide, yesterday walked nearly 100 yards to a St. Peters home with a bullet hole through his body.
His condition today is satisfactory.
It is believed that Baker fell In the River Torrens after the shot was fired.
The bullet entered his chest and emerged through his Ms back. A .38 colt revolver,
containing two spent bullets, was found.
Daily News Perth 28 May 1947 page 1
Submitted 28 January 2016 by Faithe Jones
Death Of Victim Of Shooting
Death Of Victim Of Shooting
Albert Baker, 59, racquet repairer, of North terrace, city, who walked 100 yards to a St. Peters home with a bullet wound in his chest on Tuesday, died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital yesterday morning.
Baker had been in ill-health.
Plainclothes Constable Sutherland is preparing a report for the coroner.
Advertiser 31 May 1947 page 3
Submitted 28 January 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Saint Ignatius' College
Albert Ifred Baker was born in the year 1888 on the 14th of August in Malvern, South Australia. Prior to the war, he worked as a farmer. His occupation included hard labour such as shovelling dirt and making hay bales. Albert Baker was unmarred with no children; he had a fair complexion and grey eyes. Standing at 5.5 feet tall (167cm) with a weight of 144lbs (65kg). Albert’s parents were Albert George Baker and Kate Nee Charlick. He had two brothers named 13424 Lance Corporal Frank Nelson BAKER, 5th Australian Motor Transport Section, returned to Australia, 4 July 1919; 39101 Driver Jack Clyde BAKER, 11th Field Artillery Brigade, returned to Australia, 4 July 1919.
On the 7th of June 1915, at the age of 26 years, 10 months Albert enlisted in Keswick Barracks, South Australia to the war. His journey to war began with a departure from Adelaide on the 7th of September 1915. The boat he was on was called ‘HMAT A15 Star of England. During the war Albert was an infantryman.
Albert was wounded at Pozières on 23 July 1916, suffering a gunshot wound to the back. He was evacuated to England for treatment and recovery. But he was never classified as fit to return to combat and returned to Australia on the 23rd of June 1918.
Albert Ifred Baker was never married. When he came back, he had a new job as a Racquet repairer. He died at the age of 59 on the 30th of February 1947 at Adelaide Royal Hospital, He was buried at Mitcham Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia. The cause of his death was loss of blood from a gunshot wound, after his revolver discharged into his chest in May 1947.
Biography
Son of Albert George BAKER and Kate nee CHARLICK
Click images to start slideshow.