BAXTER, Walter
| Service Numbers: | Not yet discovered |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 May 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | Special Services AIF |
| Born: | Kiandra, New South Wales, Australia, 29 October 1861 |
| Home Town: | Manly, Manly Vale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Goulburn Grammar School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Storekeeper |
| Died: | Natural causes, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia, 18 January 1928, aged 66 years |
| Cemetery: |
Randwick General Cemetery, New South Wales |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 7 May 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Major | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jul 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Major, 24th Infantry Battalion, HMAT A37 Barambah, Sydney | |
| 15 Apr 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 24th Infantry Battalion, Medically unfit | |
| 1 Apr 1917: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Major, Special Services AIF, Sea Transport Services | |
| 14 Nov 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, Special Services AIF | |
| 12 Jun 1919: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Major, Special Services AIF, Sea Transport Services | |
| 2 Mar 1920: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, Special Services AIF | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Major, 24th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour Walter Baxter's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
Walter Baxter's early youth was spent in the Goulburn district. Here, he became interested in military affairs and joined the Citizen's Forces as an officer attached to the 2nd Militia Regiment. When the South African war broke out, he volunteered for service and served throughout various campaigns from 1900 to 1903 as a Captain on the Imperial Staff. He was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal (3 Clasps) and King’s South Africa Medal (2 Clasps).
After his return, he served for a time as area officer at Lithgow. When the Great War commenced, his services were accepted, and he was appointed quartermaster of the training camp at Liverpool. When the 2nd Division was being formed, Victoria was short of officers and Major Baxter, together with other New South Wales officers were attached to the 24th Battalion. He sailed for the Middle East in early July 1915 in the HMAT Barambah. His batman was 2347 Private (later Lieutenant) Harold Joseph Cunningham a Sydney based solicitor.
The conditions in Egypt affected his health and he was forced to return to Australia in October 1915 suffering from pneumonia. He became camp commandant at the Addison Road Army Depot (Marrickville) and later resumed his old position at Liverpool, before being the Officer Commanding the Berrima Interment Camp.
He undertook tours of duty with the Sea Transport Service in 1917 and also in 1919 during the deportation of enemy subjects after the war.
Colonel Walter Baxter VD, who was associated with the military life in NSW for 50 years, died suddenly while travelling in a tram from his home in Kensington to the city to visit his seriously ill daughter Minna in hospital on Wednesday, 18 January 1928. He was 66 years of age. He was survived by his wife Eliza (nee Eather) [1860-1944] and four daughters, although sadly Minna passed away three days after her father's death.
References:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.newsarticle224226309
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180154579
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article219685798
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