Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

2155 George Edwin BAGGOTT was born on 15 February 1898 at Robe, South Australia. He attended school at Compton Downs before being enrolled at Mount Gambier High School on 7 October 1912  by his father, Archibald Ingram Baggott, who was the manager of the Border Preserve Works at Compton. He left the school on 6 March 1913.

He enlisted in October 1915 (claimed to be 21, bank clerk, single, Church of England) naming his mother, Mrs Mary Ann Baggott of Mount Gambier, as his next of kin, and embarked from Adelaide on the  ‘Miltiades’ in February 1916. Originally intended as a reinforcement to the 32nd Battalion, he was transferred to the 4th Division Artillery in April 1916 and was shipped to France in June to be attached to  the 11th Field Artillery Brigade. He served on the Western Front until leaving for return to Australia on the ‘Euripides’ in March 1919. He was discharged in June 1919. His obituary confirms the fact that he had been underage when he enlisted, being ‘only 21 when the war ended’.

Published in 'Ours: the origins and early years of Mount Gambier High School and Old Scholars who served in the Great European War' by Graeme Roulstone

RH Panel #4 Mount Gambier Pictorial Roll of Honour

The death occurred in Adelaide on June 4 of Mr. George Edwin Baggott, youngest son of Mrs. M. J. Baggott and the late Mr. A. I. Baggott, of Mount Gambier. The late Mr. George Baggott was born at  Robe, but all other sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. A. I. Baggott were born in New Zealand. He served in the  1914-1918 war for four years as a signaller, having enlisted at an early age, as he was  only 21 when the war ended. He joined up in the present war, and at the time of his death had reached the rank of Major, being engaged in clerical work in the medical section.

The late Mr. George Baggott left Mount Gambier about 1922, and joined the Adelaide Tramway service. Later he was employed with one of the leading oil companies, and also at Holden's. He married  Miss Clara Hunter, only daughter of Mr. James Hunter, of Compton, who survives him and lives at Unley. He was aged 45 years, and leaves a family of three- Jim (R.A.A.F.), Alison. and Barbara. The late Mr. Baggott leaves three sisters - Mrs. d'Ernee (Eleanor), of Mount Gambier; Mrs. L. Bauer (Laura), and Mrs. Terrison (Elizabeth). His brothers are - Archie, who is manager of a Bovril company in the  Argentine, South America; Herbert, of West Australia; Allan, of Harris, Scarfe Ltd., and Charlie of the Abattoirs Meat Trust, Adelaide.

George Edwin Baggott was born on the 15th of February, 1898, to Mrs. Mary Ann Baggot (who was listed as his next of kin) at Robe, Limestone, South Australia. His hometown was Mt Gambier, where he worked as a Bank Clerk. He enlisted with the AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) at the age of 21 years and eight months on October 9th 1915; the location where he enlisted is unknown. As part of his first mission, he fought the war in the field artillery unit as a private.

George's service number was 2155 in the field artillery unit. He was assigned to the 32nd Battalion. After his first enlistment, he underwent extreme training. Soldiers were required to undergo basic military training and drills, which were pressuring and stressful. Baggot learnt how to fire weapons and carried heavy loads of up to 20 kilograms for hours. Post-training, his stamina and strength were significantly better than before; he knew how to handle, fire, and clean guns. The 32nd battalion received specialized trench warfare training. Soldiers were required to learn about gas warfare, grenade handling, and bayonet fighting. He first embarked from Adelaide aboard the HMAT A28 Miltiades on February 7th 1916, to his destination, France. George's battles were fought in Fromelles in France (the battle of Fromelles, the first in WW1), and he was a part of the battle in Mons in Belgium. (The Battle Of Mons, the last battle in WW1)

The 32nd Battalion was formed and developed in South and Western Australia. In 1915, it became part of the 8th Brigade of the Australian Army. Baggot found himself at the forefront of the most harrowing battles.  In the battle of Fromelles, they witnessed the brutality of war and lost many soldiers. Baggot, being at the forefront, got heavily injured and was hospitalized for the rest of the war. Baggot showed remarkable resilience and courage, enduring the hardships of trench warfare and contributing to the battalion’s reputation for bravery. Though he was out of action, he was still part of the war. After the battle of Mons, Baggot could return home while recovering.

After the war, Baggot returned to Australia on the 21st of November, 1918 and married Clara May after the war.

Baggot served in WW2 as well. He enlisted with the Australian Military Forces on the 26th of August 1940 to serve as a Staff Sergeant with the 4th Military District, which is responsible for South Australia and the Northern Territory. Baggot was discharged on May 18th, 1942. 

A year after his discharge, Baggot died at the age of 45; the cause of his death is unknown. After bravely serving as a soldier, George Edwin Baggot now rests in the West Terrace Cemetery at the AIF section in Adelaide.