BAKER, Alan Rendall
| Service Number: | 4730 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 31 December 1915, at Adelaide |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Semaphore, South Australia, Australia, 15 September 1889 |
| Home Town: | Semaphore, Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Winchman |
| Died: | 24 February 1958, aged 68 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Centennial Park Cemetery, South Australia Derrick Gardens |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 31 Dec 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 4730, 10th Infantry Battalion, at Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4730, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Mongolia embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 9 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4730, 10th Infantry Battalion, RMS Mongolia, Adelaide |
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Husband of E BAKER
Of Yeo Street, Semaphore, SA
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Alan Rendall Baker was born in Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia on the 15th of September 1889. He lived in Semaphore with his father George Baker, mother Emma Jane Woodard and it is unknown if he had any siblings. When the war commenced, Baker was working as a winchman. As described in his enlistment form, he was of medium complexion, light brown hair, blue eyes, a tattoo on his left forearm, his right eye had perfect vision and his left eye had slightly under average vision. His height was 5 feet and 4 and half inches and weighed 114 pounds, with a chest measurement of 33-35 inches.
He enlisted in the A.I.F. at the age of 26 years and 3 months. He was accepted and started as a Private in the A.I.F.
Baker's service number was 4730 and began his military career at the rank of Private training in Adelaide until he embarked with the 10th Battalion 9th March 1916. He arrived in Alexandria and then proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force and disembared at Marsailles. He was taken on strength with the 50th Battalion 13th of August 1916.
On the 24th of August, he evacuated sick to hospital with a scalded foot and received trament for several weeks in France. He retrned to his unit in later October 1916.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal on the 17th of April 1917 and then temporarily promoted to Corporal on the 24th of April 1917. He was transferred to the 13th Training Battalion 31st July 1917. On the 13th of August, he was in command at the Lyndhurst bombing school.
On the 29th of September 1917 Baker was accused of disobeying a lawful command given by his superior and had his trial on the 16th of October 1917. The trial prosecuted No. 3401 A/Sergeant W, Dridan, Codford, No. 3350 A/Sergeant L.F, Johnston and No. 222 R.S.M H.E, Pugsley as the key witnesses for the trial. It remains ambiguous whether he had received a sentence or not.
In December 1917 he was treated for scabies and once recovered returned to France and returned to battle 9th February 1918. Baker was promoted to temporary Sergeant and it was then reverted to permanent ranking of Corporal on the 1st of March 1918.
Baker was wounded on April 5th 1918, with a gun shot wound to his left leg and was sent to England to the hospital in Church Lane Tooting in London where his left leg was amputated in the thigh. He then returned to Australia for discharge on July 23rd 1918.
After Baker returned to his wife Effie Hodgson and children. Baker passed away on the 24th of February 1958, at the age of 68. He was buried in Centennial Park Cemetery, Derrick Gardens in South Australia, in the same cemetery as his wife Effie, who passed away in 1973, 15 years after him.
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