Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Clarence Lloyd Baker was born in August 1897 in Mount Gambier, South Australia. His family, including his mother Sarah Baker, lived on Charles Street. He was employed as a Laborer before the war. He served for 12 months as a cadet before enlisting in the AIF in Adelaide on the 26th of October 1915. He was 18 years and 2 months old at the time. He was 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall, 132 pounds in weight and his chest was measured between 33 and 35 inches. He was described as fair-skinned, with blue eyes and brown hair.

After enlisting, he embarked on the RMS Mongolia on the 9th of March 1916. He completed initial training in Alexandria, Egypt. He was first posted to the 10th Infantry Battalion as part of the 15th Reinforcement as a Private. On the 20th of May 1916 he was transferred to the 50th Infantry.

After being transferred to the 4th Machine Gun Battalion (Then the 13th Machine Gun Company) on the 2nd of September 1916, Baker saw most of his military action. He travelled with the rest of the unit to support the 4th Division on their campaigns in France and Belgium. The battalion was equipped with Vickers medium machine guns, which were mounted on a tripod and operated by three men. The Vickers was known for its reliability, range, firing rate and ability to remain cool despite continuous fire. The role of the machine gunners was to provide flanking and plunging fire, similar to that of artillery.

On the 11th of April 1917, his unit attacked the Hindenburg Line to start the First Battle of Bullecourt. The battle did not go well for the 4th division as a whole, as the plan was delayed, tanks broke down and 1170 Australian soldiers were taken as POWs. After that disastrous battle, Baker participated in the Battle of Messines, which was a major victory for the AIF. In September 1917, the 4th division participated in the battles of Polygon Wood and Broodseinde Ridge and they successfully held their position.

On the 2nd of October 1917, he was detached to the 2nd Army Rest Camp Ambleteuse. He rejoined the 4th Machine Gun Battalion on the 24th of October. From the 15th of December 1917 to the 5th of January 1918, he was on leave in England. On the 17th of March 1918, he was sent to hospital in France with scabies. While he was in hospital, his battalion was fighting against the German Spring Offensive. He sent a letter to his mother to inform her that he was using a walking stick. Hearing this, his mother enquired about his health to the military offices. He rejoined his unit on the 1st of June 1918. On the 17th of June 1918, his mother received a response from the Major Officer that he was unable to help as he didn't have the records of his illness. After rejoining the 4th Machine Gun Battalion, Baker fought in the Battle of Le Hamel on the 4th of July. His final action was in the last hundred days campaign in August and September of 1918. A memorial can be found on a hill near the town of Bellenglise, where the 4th Division finished their campaign.

After the war, he took leave from the 6th of December to the 20th of December. On the 11th of February 1919, he moved out to England with the rest of his battalion. Shortly after, he began to suffer from boils. He was admitted to Tidworth Military Hospital to see a specialist on the 25th of March 1919. He was in hospital for 17 days before being released on the 10th of April 1919.

He returned to Australia on the 1st of May 1919, and was discharged on the 21st of July. Baker died at the age of 77 in West Croydon, South Australia. He was buried on the 10th of July 1975 at Dudley Park Cemetery.