Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bob Heard Baker

Service Number: 2445

Bob Heard Baker was a private in the 16th Australian infantry battalion. He was admitted to the 1st Australian stationary hospital, Mudros, 9th August 1915 and then transferred to St. David’s hospital, Malta on the 21st of August 1915 because of a gunshot wound, a shrapnel wound and deafness. He was then moved to the 2nd London General Hospital, England, 25th August 1915.

Bob Heard Baker was born in Spreyton, Devonshire, England, he moved to Australia at the age of 19 to Springton, Clydesdale Street, Victoria Park, Western Australia, he enlisted in Perth, Western Australia, on the 24th of May 1915. When he enlisted he was 5’7.5” and weighed 135 lbs. He disembarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on board the HMAS A51 Chilka on the 18th of June 1915

 Bob Heard Baker was in the 16th battalion as a private, he trained in Victoria and survived the attack on the bloody angle and was taken back to Egypt, the battalion then he sailed to france in 1916 but was killed in Mouquet farm, Pozieres. He has no known grave and was commemorated at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France. Private baker became missing in action on the 31st of August 1916 and was found to be Killed in action on the same day.

Before the war Bob Heard Baker was a Steward, he was married to Mrs Florence Baker who lived in Springton, Clydesdale street, Victoria park, Western Australia.

Births Dec 1885 Baker Bob Heard Okehampton 5b 383

He was 31 and the son of Stephen and Rhoda Baker; husband of Florence J. C. Baker of 19 Clydesdale St., Victoria Park, Western Australia.

Spreyton is a small rural village just north of Dartmoor in Devon, England. Spreyton is famous for its connection to the tale of “Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all” who came from, and is thought to be buried in Spreyton. Some believe that if Uncle Tom Cobley did exist and did travel to Widecombe fair, he would have travelled from Spreyton.