FAMILY LIFE

Born on 3 Jul 1897 at Bilambil Creek, John Henry Baker was the youngest of the 4 sons of George and Hannah Elizabeth (Boucher) Baker. John’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.

 APPLICATION

He was single labourer, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 22nd February 1915 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Hannah Hein. His mother signed a letter consenting to him enlisting. His medical showed he was 25 years old, 5ft 11 ½ inches tall (1.81m), weighed 161 lbs (73kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & brown hair. His eyesight was good, and he required dental treatment. Henry was Church of England and had a scar on his right foot.  He was enlisted as a private into the 3rd Pioneer Battalion with service No 1002. John enlisted the same day as his brother James, both in the same unit. His brother Leslie enlisted on 1st February 1916, the same day as Hedley the last brother. All served in the 3rd Pioneer Battalion.

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

ENOGGERA TRAINING CAMP

Together with his brother, John attended Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera as was the case with many men from the Northern Rivers district. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together

Now training for the new recruits began. Firstly, the men received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit 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 would take several months

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

The brothers, together with the together recruits, embarked from Sydney on the ship HMAT Demosthenes (A64) on 17 May 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. 

 LARKHILL TRAINING CAMP

The battalion disembarked at Devonport, England in July 1916. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more

TRENCH WARFARE

After training, he marched in from the 41st Battalion, Larkhill and was taken on strength with the Pioneer Battalion.  He proceeded overseas to France in 24TH November 1916. The soldiers now found themselves fighting the German 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.

 NOVEMBER 1916 TO MAY 1917

Between November 1916 and May 1917, the 3rd Pioneer Battalion was actively engaged on the Western Front. They undertook various tasks combining infantry and light combat engineering roles. These included constructing defensive positions, digging trenches, maintaining roads, and preparing barbed wire defences. They were also involved in battlefield clearance and supporting infantry operations

HOSPITALISATION MUMPS JANUARY 1917

On 15th January 1917 John was admitted to hospital with mumps. Mumps was, and is, a contagious viral illness, easily spread among the soldiers. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands and inflammation in other parts of the body.  Soldiers would have suffered fever, headaches, tiredness, body aches & poor appetite. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. Treatment would have included plenty of rest, lots of fluids, using a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling & eating foods that do not need a lot of chewing. He rejoined his unit on 15th February 1917.

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES JUNE 1917

By June he 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.

KILLED IN ACTION & BURIAL SITE

Service No. 1002, Private John Baker, aged 20 years, was killed in the field on 27 Jun 1917 and buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery, Ypres, plot 2, row E

 FOR HIS SERVICE

Private John Henry Baker was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service on the Western Front and his name is inscribed on the Murwillumbah Cenotaph and the Queensland Railways Toowoomba Employees Roll of Honour. His name is recorded on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial No. 173, among almost 62,000 Australians who died while serving in the First World War. John’s effects were returned to his mother on 16th April 1918 and consisted of his kit store book & testament. His mother received his memorial plaque on 9th February 1922 & his Victory Medal on 17th March 1923

If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.