BAXTER, Cecil William
| Service Number: | 5 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Milton, New South Wales, Australia, October 1892 |
| Home Town: | Murwillumbah, Tweed, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Milton Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Killed In Action, Belgium, 13 August 1917 |
| Cemetery: |
Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium II G 21 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Dungay Public School WW1 Honor Roll, Murwillumbah War Memorial, Rous Public School Old Time Pupils Roll of Honor |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Driver, 5, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Argyllshire embarkation_ship_number: A8 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 5, 1st Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Argyllshire, Sydney | |
| 13 Aug 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 3rd Field Artillery Brigade , Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-08-13 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Sharyn Roberts
Son of William Robert and Mary Jane BAXTER, Murwillumbah, New South Wales
A BRILLIANT TWEED SOLDIER KILLED.
Lieut. Cecil Baxter, D.C.M., M.C.
Rev. H. B. Madden on Saturday received an official telegram stating that Lieutenant Cecil William Baxter, D.C.M., M.C., 3rd Field Artillery, had been killed in action in France on 13th August.
Lieut. Baxter, a son of Mr. and Mrs W. Baxter, of Newtown, Murwillumbah, was one of the Tweed's most brilliant young soldiers: he was in action for practically the whole of the war period, going with the first Australian troops to Gallipoli, as a gunner. He gained the Distinguished Conduct Medal on the Peninsula, being the first soldier from the North Coast to gain that, honor.
After the evacuation he saw continuous service in France, never losing a single day from illness or wound:, here he was promoted to Lieutenant for conspicuous bravery, and later, was yet a third time honored, being awarded the Military Cross.
A brother of the departed hero is still on service. At the Mission Service on Saturday night and again on Sunday the Missioner, Bishop Druitt, made feeling reference to the untimely death of a
fine soldier and a brave man.
Distinguished Conduct Medal
'For conspicuous gallantry and resource on 12th and 13th July 1915, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, when, under a heavy shell and rifle fire, he continually repaired telephone lines, thereby assisting to maintain communications at a time when any interruption would have entailed serious consequences. Bombardier Baxter has previously been brought to notice for coolness and bravery in performing similar work during the period from the 6th to the 15th May.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 28
Date: 24 February 1916
Military Cross
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. By his untiring energy and fearlessness he maintained communications during an intense hostile bombardment, and rendered the most valuable asistance before, during, and subsequent to an assault, which he closely followed up in spite of heavy enemy barrage.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219
Date: 29 December 1917
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