Private Hedley Cecil Horace Baker
Service #: 733
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Born on 20th April, 1893 at Palmer Island, Clarence Valley, Hedley Cecil Horace Baker was one of 4 sons of George and Hannah Elizabeth (Boucher) Baker. Hedley’s parents were married in 1888 and throughout their married life several children were born in and around the Lower Clarence. From these birthplaces it is inferred that George left the family property and struck out on his own taking work where he could. The Clarence River Advocate, dated Tuesday 8 Nov 1898 stated that George was struck by a falling tree at Terranora and sustained injuries to the spine and three broken ribs. He was treated at Lismore then underwent six years of hospitalisation at Rookwood and Liverpool State hospitals in Sydney before dying on 2 Feb 1904, aged 43 years, and 11 months, and leaving a widow and several children to mourn his loss. His mother married Karl Hein in Murwillumbah in 1913. Hedley’s brother, Leslie enlisted on the same day & James only 3 weeks later, on 22nd February.
ATTESTATION
Hedley was single farmer at Nobbys Creek, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 1st February 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Hannah, of Tweed Heads.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Hedley Cecil Horace Baker, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO, HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical showed he was 22 years 7 months old, 5ft 10 ½ inches tall (1.8m), weighed 146 lbs (66kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good. Hedley was Church of England.
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Hedley was in Campbellfields, Melbourne training camp when this was completed on 19th April, 1916. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, C Company, the same as his brothers, with service No 733
3RD PIONEER BATTALION
The 3rd Pioneer Battalion was an Australian infantry and light engineer unit raised during World War I as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). Formed in March 1916 in Victoria, it was assigned to the 3rd Division and served on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Pioneer battalions were unique in that they combined infantry combat skills with light engineering capabilities, such as constructing trenches, defensive positions, and maintaining roads and railways. The 3rd Pioneer Battalion's legacy is marked by its versatility and dedication
CAMPBELLFIELD TRAINING CAMP
Now training for Hedley, James, Leslie & the new recruits began. Firstly, the men had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service. It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas. The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training could take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day
VOYAGE OVERSEAS MELBOURNE TO ENGLAND JUNE 1916
Hedley, James, Leslie & their unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on 6 June 1916. They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant.
DISCIPLINED- ADMONISHED
While docked in Cape Town, South Africa, Hedley, Leslie & James went absent without leave on 3rd July 1916 for which they admonished & forfeited 1 day’s pay each
They disembarked at Plymouth on 26th July 1917 and marched into the English training camp. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind.
When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital.
Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.
Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions. Specially constructed practice trenches on Salisbury Plain allowed officers and NCOs to rehearse attacks down to the smallest detail, ensuring that every man understood his role once the battalion went into action.
Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.
Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.
Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and by autumn the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.
After many months of continuous preparation in England, the Battalion was judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front. Training could last many months
FRANCE AND TRENCH WARFARE NOVEMBER 1916
Hedley, Leslie & James were taken on strength on 24th November 1916 in France. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
· Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.
· Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.
· Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH 24TH NOVEMBER 1916
When Hedley arrived in France on 24 November 1916, the 3rd Pioneer Battalion had only recently crossed from England as part of the 3rd Australian Division. Rather than entering a major offensive immediately, the battalion was sent into the Somme sector during one of the harshest winters of the war
The period between late November 1916 and January 1917 was dominated not by large battles but by exhausting labour and trench duties. Pioneer battalions were specially organised to act as both infantry and engineers. Hedley and his comrades would have spent much of their time constructing and repairing trenches, digging communication trenches, laying duckboard tracks across the mud, repairing roads, erecting barbed-wire entanglements, building strongpoints and carrying engineering stores forward to the front-line units. When required, pioneers also occupied trenches and served alongside infantry battalions.
The Somme battlefield they entered was a wasteland. The great Somme offensive had officially ended only days before Hedley's arrival. Around Flers, Gueudecourt and the Ancre Valley, the ground had been churned by months of shellfire into a sea of mud. Trenches collapsed constantly, shell holes filled with water, and supplies often had to be carried forward by hand. The weather became the soldiers' greatest enemy. Rain, snow and freezing temperatures created conditions in which trench foot, frostbite and illness were common.
As a member of the 3rd Australian Division, Hedley would have been helping prepare and improve positions while the division gained practical experience of trench warfare. The winter months were spent rotating between labour tasks, training, and periods in the line. Large-scale attacks were impossible because of the conditions, but artillery fire, sniping, trench raids and working parties continued day and night.
By January 1917 the weather had turned intensely cold. Frozen ground made movement easier than the previous mud, but exposed men to new hardships. The battalion continued its engineering and trench maintenance work while the British armies prepared for renewed operations on the Somme.
HOSPITALISED, 20TH JANUARY 1917- ENTERITIS
Against this background, it is not surprising that Hedley was admitted to hospital with enteritis on 20 January 1917. Months of exposure to cold, damp conditions, contaminated water, primitive sanitation and poor diet made intestinal illnesses common among troops on the Western Front. By the time he entered hospital, he had already endured nearly two months of the grim winter conditions that characterised the Somme after the great battles of 1916. He was admitted to the 10th Field Ambulance with the complaint. (A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.) Enteritis is inflammation of the small intestine, often caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or reduced blood flow. It can lead to symptoms like abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fever
It was often caused by poor sanitation, contaminated water, and malnutrition. It was commonly linked to dysentery, which was a major health issue for soldiers. Soldiers were given water purified with chloride of lime to prevent dehydration. Bland diets were used to ease symptoms, though food shortages made proper nutrition difficult. Antibiotics were not yet available, so treatment relied on basic antiseptics and pain relief. Hedley only had a mild case and rejoined his unit on 22nd January.
HINDENBURG LINE OPERATION JANUARY 1917
When Hedley rejoined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion on 22 January 1917, he returned to a unit that was heavily involved in the operations that followed the German withdrawal to the formidable defences of the Hindenburg Line.
ENDLESS TASKS FEBRUARY 1917
During February 1917, the battalion remained in the Somme area carrying out the endless engineering and labour tasks expected of pioneers. Roads damaged by shellfire had to be repaired, trenches maintained, dugouts constructed, and wire obstacles erected. Although these jobs rarely attracted the attention given to infantry assaults, they were essential to keeping the front functioning. Hedley would have spent much of his time with pick, shovel and timber rather than rifle in hand.
REPAIRING DAMAGE MARCH 1917
In March the Germans began their strategic withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, an operation known to the British as the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. As the enemy fell back, Australian units cautiously advanced through territory that had been occupied for more than two years. The 3rd Pioneer Battalion followed the advance, repairing roads and bridges destroyed by the retreating Germans, filling shell craters, constructing crossings over streams and preparing routes for guns, wagons and infantry. The Germans deliberately devastated the countryside as they withdrew, leaving villages in ruins and roads mined or blocked. The pioneers were constantly employed making the ground passable.
STRENGTHENING POSITIONS AND CONSTRUCTING DEFENSIVE SYSTEMS APRIL 1917
During April, the 3rd Australian Division moved into the front line around the newly occupied areas east of Bapaume. Hedley and his comrades worked on strengthening captured positions and constructing new defensive systems facing the Hindenburg Line. Much of this work was carried out under enemy artillery observation and occasional shellfire. Working parties often laboured at night to avoid attracting German attention.
VARIOUS DUTIES MAY 1917
By May 1917 the division was preparing for the forthcoming offensive in Flanders. The battalion continued its engineering responsibilities while undertaking military training and rehearsals. Pioneer battalions had to be ready not only to build and repair but also to fight as infantry if required. Consequently, Hedley's days were likely divided between labour duties, military training, route marches, trench rotations and the construction of roads, strongpoints and communication trenches.
THE BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917
By June the 3rd was fighting in Belgium, leading up to the Battle of Messines. The primary objective was to secure the strategically important Wytschaete Messines Ridge, the high ground south of Ypres which in turn would benefit the allies to launch a larger campaign east of Ypres. The Australian involvement came under Lieutenant General Sir. Alexander Godley’s II Anzac Corps, which included the 3rd Australian Division. This Battle was launched on 7 Jun 1917 and exemplified tactical success through careful planning and firepower.
The 3rd Pioneer Battalion played a significant role in the Battle. As part of the Australian Imperial Force's 3rd Division, they were tasked with essential engineering and support duties. Their responsibilities included digging trenches, constructing defensive positions, maintaining roads, and ensuring the supply of water and other resources to the front lines
The Battle of Messines was a meticulously planned operation aimed at capturing the Messines Ridge in Belgium. The 3rd Pioneer Battalion's efforts were crucial in supporting the attacking infantry by enhancing mobility and fortifications.
WOUNDED IN ACTION- BATTLE OF MESSINES 27TH JUNE 1917
By June 1917, Hedley had been serving on the Western Front for seven months and was with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion in the Messines sector of Belgium. The battalion had recently supported the great Battle of Messines, carrying out the arduous work for which pioneer units were renowned. Roads had to be repaired, communication trenches dug and maintained, duckboard tracks laid across shattered ground, and defensive positions strengthened. Much of this labour was undertaken within range of German artillery and small-arms fire, making the work every bit as dangerous as that of the infantry.
On 27th June 1917, the 3rd Pioneer Battalion was engaged in operations near Ploegsteert, Belgium. This was during the Battle of Messines; a significant Allied offensive aimed at securing high ground in Flanders. The battalion was responsible for engineering tasks, including trench construction, fortifications, and maintaining supply routes to support frontline troops. Hedley was wounded in action on 27th June 1917, with a gunshot wound to the left knee & shoulder The circumstances are not recorded, but the wounds were received while the battalion was operating in an active combat zone where enemy shelling and sniping remained a constant threat despite the conclusion of the main Messines fighting.
HOSPITAL AND RECOVERY CHAIN JUNE 1917
He was evacuated from the front through the established medical chain, first reaching the 9th Australian Field Ambulance and then the 11th Casualty Clearing Station later the same day. On the 28 June he was admitted to the 7th Canadian General Hospital at Étaples, one of the vast hospital complexes serving the British Expeditionary Force in France. There he received further treatment for his wounds and, fortunately, his condition improved sufficiently that he did not require transfer to England.
CONVALESCENT DEPOT JUNE 1917
After only a short stay in hospital he was discharged to the 6th Convalescent Depot on 30 June, where recovering soldiers were given time to rest, regain their strength and undergo light physical training before being considered fit for duty.
BASE DEPOT JULY AND AUGUST 1917
Hedley continued his recovery during July and August. On 2 July he proceeded to the Base Depot and two days later was transferred to the 3rd Australian Divisional Base Depot. These reinforcement depots acted as holding units for soldiers who had recovered from wounds or illness but were awaiting return to their battalions. During this period Hedley would have undertaken physical rehabilitation, military training and route marches designed to restore his fitness after the injury to his knee and shoulder.
REJOINED UNIT AUGUST 1917
As the great Third Battle of Ypres unfolded in Flanders, Hedley remained determined to return to his comrades. After nearly two months away from the front, he was finally declared fit for active service. On 25 August 1917 he marched out from the depot and, three days later, rejoined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion.
When Hedley rejoined the 3rd Pioneer Battalion on 28 August 1917, he returned to his unit during one of the most demanding periods of the war. The battalion was serving in the Ypres Salient, where the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as Passchendaele, was raging. The battlefield had been transformed by incessant shellfire and heavy rain into a sea of mud that swallowed men, horses, guns and supplies. In these conditions, the work of the pioneers became absolutely essential.
SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER 1917
Throughout September and October 1917, Hedley and his comrades were heavily engaged in constructing and maintaining the infrastructure needed to keep the Australian divisions fighting. They repaired roads shattered by artillery fire, laid thousands of yards of duckboard tracks across waterlogged ground, built tramways for the movement of supplies, dug communication trenches and erected defensive wire. Much of this work was carried out at night and under enemy observation. Pioneer parties frequently came under shellfire while labouring in exposed positions, and casualties were common.
DISCIPLINED 7TH SEPTEMBER 1917
Hedley was disciplined for conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he kept to the wrong side of the road when machinery with a squad & intercepted traffic. He was awarded FP NO 2 for 5 days. In Field Punishment Number Two, the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment.
BROODSEINDE AND PASSCHENDAELE OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 1917
The battalion supported the operations that culminated in the battles around Broodseinde and Passchendaele.
THE BATTLE OF BROODSEINDE OCTOBER 1917
The Battle of Broodseinde was fought on 4 October 1917 near Ypres. The battle was the most successful Allied attack of the Third Battle of Ypres. Using bite-and-hold tactics, with objectives limited to what could be held against German counter-attacks, the allied devastated the German defence, prompted a crisis among the German commanders and caused a severe loss of morale in the 4th Army. Preparations were made by the Germans for local withdrawals and planning began for a greater withdrawal, which would entail the abandonment by the Germans of the Belgian coast, one of the strategic aims of the Flanders Offensive.
THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, (JULY 31–NOVEMBER 6, 1917),
This battle that served as a vivid symbol of the mud, madness, and senseless slaughter of the Western Front. The third and longest battle to take place at the Belgian city of Ypres, Passchendaele was ostensibly an Allied victory, but it was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the following year. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers on opposing sides attacked and counterattacked across sodden, porridgelike mud, in an open gray landscape almost empty of buildings or natural cover, all under the relentless harrowing rain of exploding shells, flying shrapnel, and machine-gun fire. Few gains were made.
3RD PIONEERS ACTIVITIES
Although not generally employed as assault infantry, the pioneers often worked close behind the attacking troops, clearing routes, consolidating captured positions and preparing new defensive works. The conditions were appalling. Men worked knee-deep in mud, soaked by rain and burdened with heavy equipment, often surviving on little sleep.
LATE 1917
As the fighting gradually subsided toward the end of 1917, the 3rd Australian Division moved between front-line, support and reserve areas. During these quieter periods, the pioneers continued their engineering duties while also undertaking training, equipment maintenance and the repair of the extensive damage caused by months of battle. Billets in villages behind the line offered some relief from the front, but even there the men were frequently called upon for labouring tasks.
DECEMBER 1917 FLANDERS
By December 1917, the Australian Corps was settling into the winter routine in Flanders. Hedley's days were likely occupied by a mixture of trench maintenance, working parties, military training and periods of rest in reserve. Winter once again brought cold weather, mud and the constant challenge of keeping roads and trenches serviceable.
LEAVE IN ENGLAND JANUARY 1918
On 18 January 1918, after many months of continuous service and following his recovery from wounds received the previous year, Hedley was granted leave to England. For an Australian soldier, leave was a treasured opportunity. Crossing the Channel, he exchanged the mud and shellfire of Flanders for a brief period of freedom. During his leave, which lasted until 28 January, he could enjoy proper meals, comfortable accommodation, entertainment, sightseeing and, perhaps most importantly, a respite from the dangers and hardships of the Western Front. Refreshed by this break, he returned to France and rejoined the battalion to face another year of war.
‘QUIET TIME” JANUARY TO FEBRUARY 1918
After returning from England, Hedley would likely have resumed the routine duties that filled a pioneer's day. These included repairing trenches damaged by winter weather, maintaining duckboard tracks across muddy ground, rebuilding roads churned up by traffic and shellfire, improving dugouts, erecting barbed-wire entanglements and carrying engineering materials forward to working parties. Winter conditions in Flanders were notoriously difficult, with rain, mud and freezing temperatures creating constant challenges.
The battalion also devoted time to training. The Australian Corps was absorbing lessons learned during the fighting of 1917 and preparing for the campaigns expected in 1918. Training exercises, route marches, musketry practice and tactical instruction were common whenever men could be spared from labour duties.
The period was marked by the ordinary hardships of trench warfare rather than major battles. Men lived in crowded billets, huts and dugouts, often with limited opportunities for bathing or changing clothes. Such conditions encouraged the spread of skin complaints and infestations. Scabies was particularly common among soldiers who spent long periods in close quarters and who had little access to proper washing facilities.
HOSPITALISED -SCABIES, 24TH FEBRUARY 1918
On 24th February 1918 Hedley was hospitalised with scabies. Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by a mite, leading to intense itching, rashes, and skin irritation. It spreads through close contact and was a common issue among the soldiers due to poor hygiene and overcrowded conditions. It was treated using sulphur-based creams to kill the mites. Infected soldiers were scrubbed with soft soap and soaked in warm baths to expose the mites & their uniforms, bedding, and personal items were thoroughly cleaned to prevent reinfection. Hedley returned to his unit on 13th March 1918
GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE MARCH TO JULY 1918
During the German Spring Offensive of 1918, the 3rd Pioneer Battalion played a crucial role in supporting the Australian forces on the Western Front. This offensive, also known as the Kaiserschlacht, was a series of German attacks aimed at breaking through Allied lines before American reinforcements could fully arrive.
The 3rd Pioneer Battalion's tasks included constructing defensive positions, maintaining roads, and fortifying trenches to resist the German advance. They also assisted in battlefield clearance and provided engineering support to ensure the mobility of troops and supplies. Their efforts were instrumental in halting the German tide and stabilizing the front lines during this critical phase of the war.
The Spring Offensive marked one of the most intense periods of combat for the battalion, showcasing their dual capabilities as both engineers and infantry. Their resilience and adaptability were key to the Allied defence during this challenging time
HOSPITALISED- SCALDED HAND 13TH APRIL 1918
On 13th April Hedley’s hand was accidentally scalded. He was invalided to the Military Hospital in Boscombe, England on 19th April
FURLOUGH & NO 1 COMMAND DEPOT SUTTON VENEY
Hedley was given furlough from 9th May to 23rd May 1918 and told to report to No 1 command depot at Sutton Veney. The No. 1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, was a convalescent and training facility for Australian soldiers during World War I. It helped wounded soldiers recover before returning to duty. Soldiers underwent physical conditioning to prepare for frontline service.
HOSPITALISED- SCABIES 19TH JUNE 1918
During this time Hedley was again hospitalised with scabies. He was admitted to the Group Clearing Hospital. On 25th June he was again marched into the command depot classified as B1A. B1 means he was able to march 5 miles, see to shoot with glasses, and hear well. A means he was able to march, see to shoot, hear well, and stand active service conditions
DISCIPLINED 23RD JUNE 1918
Hedley was disciplined on 23rd June 1918. His offence was conduct to the prejudice of good order & military discipline in that he was reading a paper while on parade. He was given 7 days confined to camp.
HOSPITALISED- DIARRHOEA 10TH JULY 1917
On 10th July Hedley was admitted to the Group Clearing Hospital with diarrhoea. Treatment included being given chloride of lime to sterilize drinking water, though many disliked the taste. Bland foods were provided to ease symptoms, but food shortages often made proper nutrition difficult. Antibiotics were not yet available, so treatment relied on basic antiseptics and hydration. On 2nd September he was transferred to the 1st Military Hospital in Harefield then to Sutton Veney again.
GETTING HOME
The end of the war was in sight and on 11th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait many months before they were headed back to Australia. On 25th January 1919 Hedley boarded the HMAT Ceramic bound for Australia. He disembarked on 26th March 1919 and was discharged on 3rd May 1919.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and
non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their
shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also
wore unit titles above this which
indicated the units to which they belonged
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Hedley was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
HOME LIFE
Hedley married Isabel Margaret Sarah Jarvis in 1922 in Murwillumbah. Their son, Ronald Hedley James Baker was born on 18th June 1923.
On 25th March 1938 Hedley purchased one of 33 allotments at Kirra, Coolangatta, for 380 pounds.
Hedley died on 28th March 1966, aged 72, in Currumbin and is buried in Tweed Heads Old General Cemetery
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
Tweed Heads Old General Cemetery
