The AIF Project

David Arthur BAKER

Regimental number3017
Place of birthMalmsbury, Victoria
SchoolCampbell's Creek State School, Victoria
ReligionMethodist
OccupationBaker
Address161 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation21
Height5' 3.75"
Weight140 lbs
Next of kinBrother, W J Baker, Mildura, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 6 months in the Senior Cadets; 6 months in Non-Com Class at Castlemaine; lived in exempt area under Compulsory Military Training scheme.
Enlistment date27 July 1915
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll27 July 1915
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name21st Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/38/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 18 November 1915
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll1st Field Bakery
Other details from Roll of Honour CircularServed as Sergeant, Boy Scouts, Campbell's Creek. Prominent as bicycle rider in road racing, footballer & friendly society enthusiast (Australian Natives' Association). (details from brother)
FateDied of disease 19 February 1919
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialSte Marie Cemetery (Plot VIII, Row J, Grave No. 3), Le Havre, France
Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
181
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: James and Mary Jane BAKER. Native of Campbell's Creek, Castlemaine, Victoria
Family/military connectionsCousin: 3389 Pte Herbert Charles KIDD MM, 7th Bn, returned to Australia, 12 April 1919.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked Melbourne, 18 November 1915. Found guilty, at sea, 23 January 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline: awarded forfeiture of 1 day's pay.

Allotted to and proceeded to join 7th Bn, Serapeum, 24 February 1916.

Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 20 March 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 31 March 1916.

Transferred to 1st Australian Field Bakery; taken on strength, 27 September 1916.

Found guilty, 5 October 1916, of being absent without leave from 10 pm, 4 October, to 12.10 am, 5 October 1916: awarded forfeiture of 5 days' pay.

Found guilty, 17 August 1917, of when on Active Service being absent from duty from 9.45 pm till 10.30 pm same day, thereby evading work that was performed by Pte Finn: awarded forfeiture of 2 days' pay; forfeited a total of 3 days' pay.

On leave to United Kingdom, 14 October 1917; rejoined unit from leave, 28 October 1917.

Admitted to 1st General Hospital, Rouen, 31 December 1917 (ulcer, foot); discharged to duty, and rejoined unit, 12 January 1918.

Proceeded to St Germain and Mont d'Or for duty and held on command, 28 February 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 4 February 1919.

Admitted to 40th Stationary Hospital, Harfleur, 10 February 1919 (influenza); listed as 'dangerously ill', 14 February 1919.

Died of disease (broncho-pneumonia), 19 February 1919.

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, BAKER David Arthur

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