BAKER, Henry Howard
| Service Number: | 8567 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 August 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Wheeler Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 6th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Gawler, South Australia , 15 December 1884 |
| Home Town: | Gawler, Gawler, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Gawler Public School and Gawler South Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Fitter |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Belgium, 7 November 1917, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
The Huts Cemetery, Dickebusch, Belgium 14 B 6, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 8567, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1915: | Promoted AIF WW1, Wheeler Sergeant, 6th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Wheeler Sergeant, 8567, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Persic embarkation_ship_number: A34 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Wheeler Sergeant, 8567, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , HMAT Persic, Melbourne | |
| 25 Sep 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Polygon Wood | |
| 7 Nov 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Wheeler Sergeant, 8567, 6th Field Artillery Brigade , 2nd Passchendaele , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 8567 awm_unit: 6th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Whlr Serjt awm_died_date: 1917-11-07 |
Distinguished Conduct Medal
On the night 24/25th September 1917 at HOOGE when his Battery was moving its position a gun got bogged under shell fire. BAKER remained under the continuous fire until he got the gun clear. Later on the same night an 8" shell blew a big hole in the track over which the guns were advancing to the new position. Taking charge of a few men he made a new track around this hole notwithstanding the hostile fire. On the morning of the 26th September during the hostile counter attack this Battery came under heavy fire, No 4 gun being hit and the whole of the detachment killed, whilst No 3 gun and the ammunition caught fire. The Battery Commander was wounded simultaneously. Notwithstanding the heavy fire Baker single-handed attacked the fires and eventually got them out, and subsequently during this action under continuous fire rendered invaluable service getting the guns back into action at a time when their fire was of the greatest value. His conduct had the greatest effect on the remainder of the personnel and is worthy of the highest rewards.
Submitted 5 February 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography
Son of William Henry BAKER and Emma Selina nee PINSON
Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal
He Gave His Life To Keep Us Free
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