Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Alexander BAIRD and Sarah Ann nee WILSON

AWM Embarkation (www.awm.gov.au) text recognition software has transcribed Surname as BAUD - Actual Embarkation Roll (static.awm.gov.au) document shows this to be an error - Surname is BAIRD

John Oliver (Oliver) Baird was born on the 8th of December 1893, in Truro, South Australia. His mother was Sarah Ann Baird nee Wilson, and his father was Alexander Baird. John Oliver had two siblings: Ruby Harriet Harrison nee Baird, and Thomas Edwin Baird, who also enlisted in the AIF in 1916.

Unfortunately, when Oliver was eight years old his mother Sarah died. Then almost two years later, his father married Adelaide Jane Baird nee Harrison, and they went on to have eight children together; Adelaide Eileen, Gweneth Elizabeth, Bernice Lorna Viola, Kathleen Alexandra, Florence Isobel, Guy Alexander, Ella Julia, and Douglas Alexander who all became Oliver’s half siblings. He was educated at Tablelands School, which is also where Adelaide Jane was working. At age 14, Oliver went to live with his Uncle Dave and Aunt Lou Wilson of Fifth Street, Ardrossan. He worked with his uncle, who was a Grain Agent as a wheat buyer.

At some point before the war, Oliver worked as a butcher, and this was his occupation up until enlistment.

When he enlisted, Oliver was 21 years and 2 months old. Oliver was 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed 140 pounds. On his service record it states he had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light-coloured hair. Oliver s religion was “Church of England.

John Oliver enlisted for the war on the 7th of January 1915 at Oaklands, South Australia, which was a temporary army camp at the time. When Oliver enlisted, he was attached to the Light Horse Brigade Train 4, which was a supply unit that supported the 4th Light Horse Brigade in World War I. His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A19 Afric on the 26th of May 1915.

The Light Horse Brigade Train 4 was part of the Australian Army Service Corps and transported essential supplies like food, water, ammunition, and medical equipment. Using wagons and pack animals it ensured the mounted troops had what they needed. He was then given the title of driver, which meant he was responsible for driving military vehicles that carried supplies, troops, and equipment. They delivered food, weapons, and medicine to the front lines and sometimes helped move wounded soldiers. Drivers also had to repair their trucks and keep them working in tough conditions.

Oliver was with this unit for 3 months but was then temporarily attached to the 104th Howitzer battery. However, the battery was then divided and transferred to the 4th Field Artillery Brigade. Then 18 days later Oliver rejoined his original unit from detachment.

During this time in his unit, he suffered from diarrhoea and rested for 3 days. After this, he was located with the 20th Company, Australian Army Service Corps. Then for 19 days, he took leave in the UK rejoining on 30th June 1917. After Oliver returned to France, he stayed with the 20th Company, Australian Army Service Corps until he was re-mustered as a Private at his own request. However, in the 3rd Battle of Ypres his brother died in action. Oliver was at this battle at the time.

he was transferred to "K" Supply Column, Motor Transport on 5th August 1917, which was a support unit that assisted Australian soldiers in France. Its job was to carry important supplies like food, water, weapons, and medical equipment to the front lines. They worked in very tough and dangerous conditions, often travelling through mud, broken roads, and areas under attack. They used wagons pulled by horses and later trucks to deliver what the soldiers needed to survive.

Then, on the 19th of September 1917, he was taken on strength to the 5th Australian Divisional Supply Column on transfer. Soon after, he was transferred from "K" Supply Column to No. 4 Australian Division Supply Column via the 1st Base Motor Transport Depot. At this point he was appointed a Driver of Motor Transport. His service number was changed from 5953 to 8811.

In early 1918, he was transferred to 4th Australian Division Mechanical Transport Company which is where he learnt mechanical skills that he used later in life. He went on leave once more to the UK later in the year before returning to his unit. On the 7th of October 1918, he was appointed Lance Corporal.

On the 21st of February 1919, he left England and arrived in Le Havre, France. Not long after, he returned to England, disembarking at Weymouth and being admitted to a hospital in Heytesbury on the 27th of February. On the 19th of March, he was sent to the 2nd Training Battalion in Bedford and officially joined on the 22nd of March. On the 1st of April, he was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital in Bulford, where he was treated for venereal disease. On the 4th of July 1919, he was discharged and transferred to No. 2 Group in Sutton Veny. After recovering, he returned to Australia on the 18th of July 1919 aboard the ship Takada.

Life after the war:

After his discharge, Oliver Baird returned to Ardrossan and, with his brother-in-law Both Harrison, started a motor garage. They began in a shed before building a new garage at 30 First Street in 1922. Alongside the garage, they also showed silent films, using a car-powered generator to provide electricity and supplying power to a local saddlery. When Both left to start his own business, Oliver continued with electricity and motion pictures, running the local Picture Show for the Ardrossan Institute. In 1923, Oliver married Cathren (Ren) Terese Huckvale, and they had two children: Thomas Oliver (1924) and Sheila Imelda (1926). Oliver also became involved with wireless radio, working with Dr. Norman Matthews to install wireless sets around Ardrossan and even creating early radiograms. In 1959, he set up the first television in the Ardrossan Hotel.

After a 1933 accident, Oliver shifted his focus to radio and electrical work, closing the garage when his son Tom enlisted in the RAAF in 1942. He became a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers of Australia, a significant achievement for someone who was self-taught. After Tom’s return in 1945, they continued their work in radio and later television.

Oliver passed away on 9 February 1963, and his wife, Ren, on 7 May 1978. They are both buried in the Ardrossan Cemetery. Some of Oliver’s early radio equipment is now on display in the Telecom Radio Museum in Adelaide.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

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