Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Charles Ray BAXTER and Mary Ann BAXTER nee BISHOP

William worked for Saltau and Sons in Koroit.  He was rejected by the military authorities and decided on a trip to America.  He proceeded to England where he joined the 3rd Royal Welch Fusiliers as 34552 Private W Baxter.

September 1915 - Mr. Wm. Baxter, who for the past seven years has been in the employ of Saltau and Son at Koroit, volunteered for service here and was rejected on account of  defective teeth. He then decided on a trip to America, and after a short visit to San Francisco proceeded to England. A cable message was this week received by his aunt Miss  Baxter, stating he had joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

November 1915 - Private W. C. Baxter, formerly with Messrs Saltau and Sons, Koroit, writes as follows " London, Sept. I8, 1915.-This is where I am. I arrived here a week ago,  and after seeing the sights of the city, finally decided to have another shot for the army, and have been passed as O.K., and I now answer the name of Private W. Baxter, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. I have gone into training here, but will only be about a fortnight in London, as we arc being transferred to Wales, where the general camp is. This is one of the crack regiments, and I am naturally very proud at getting into it. I would not be surprised that before this letter reaches you we will have compulsory service; things seem to be  warming up to it here now. I was the fortunate witness of a Zeppelin raid on Wednesday night last. It was a real battlefield while it lasted. The bombs fell only two streets from the hotel I was staying at for the night. I saw the Zeppelin plainly, lit up by the searchlights. About 500 air-craft guns all let go at it. When 1 say 5001 am not over-estimating it, as  nearly every large building in the city has a gun mounted on its roof. Shot and shell were flving in all directions. It was a sight I never thought I would be likely to see. When I got  up next morning and saw the ruins it was terrible. Buildings had been blown to pieces, and windows smashed for miles around. Broken glass even fell in the hotel yard, so you can see I might have been one of the victims. The next morning I joined the army. London is a fearful place at night; there are no lights anywhere, and even people who have lived in  the city all their life will not go far after dark, for fear they would not find their way home again. Things are very strict in the army here; you must do things right, or there is a hot time in store for you. The English officers talk much sterner than I could imagine an Australian ffiocer doing. The salute of an officr here is very funny. You know the salute in  Australia-just up with your hand, and down again. Here when you meet an officer, you must salute him from three paces, and keep at the salute until you are three paces past  him. I got pulled up in the Strand here, and made to do the proper salute right in front of a crowd of people, who thought it a great joke."

Suffered gunshot wound to Head and Right Wrist 09 July 1916.

In a letter to his Aunt, he told of his Military Medal heroics.  

"Since writing to you last, I have some news to tell you.  I am now in camp near Liverpool.  After I came from the hosptial I got 10 days' leave, and went up to London, then to Cardiff in Wales, a small seaside place, where I stayed with some Welsh friends named Davids.  I am now in the 3rd Royal Welch Fusiliers, and tonight 500 of our men who have been wounded three times are off to France again.  I myself have been smshed up but must go back for sure.  In the Battalion Orders for 27 September the following appears, '34552 Pte. WC Baxter has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry under heavy shell fire'.  I was presented with the colours last night in the Liverpool Town Hall, you do not get the medal till after.  Sir John French presented the colours to eleven of us, and I admit I felt a bit nervous facing the crowd in the Town Hall.  I remember carrying a wounded corporal on my back from the German front line, when things were getty pretty hot, but unfortunately he died later.  I thought nothing of it all at the time, and had forgotten it, but seomeone evidently saw me, for the recommendation when through from an officer of the Royal West Kents."

May 1917 - Private Wm. Baxter, M.M., of Koroit, (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) has been wounded in battle for the third time. He is now at Salonika, and was wounded in the head during a bomb raid.

Returned to Australia 7th June 1918

Commemorated Korit Roll of Honor, Koroit Presbyterian Church, Koroit Expeditionary.

No Evidence on Service Record stating award of MM was made 

 Ancestry Family Tree

Victoria, Australia, Birth Index, 1837-1921

Name - William Charles Baxter
Birth Place - Victoria, Australia
Birth Registration Date -1879
Birth Registration Place - Victoria, Australia
Father- Charles Ray Baxter
Mother - Baxter

Reference Number  5939