BAIRD, William George
| Service Number: | 2253 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 April 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1883 |
| Home Town: | Surry Hills, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Enmore Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Rope maker |
| Died: | Killed in action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 7 August 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC Plot III, Row B, Grave No. 19. |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Moore Park Cricket Association Memorial Fountain |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2253, 3rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2253, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Karoola embarkation_ship_number: A63 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2253, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Karoola, Sydney |
Help us honour William George Baird's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
William George Baird enlisted in April 1915, joined the 3rd Battalion on Gallipoli on the 4 August 1915 and was killed in action within a week, sometime during the Battle of Lone Pine, a savage and ferocious close-quarters engagement that took place over five days at Gallipoli.
He was not young, at 32 years of age, and was married to Florence, his wife, during 1907 in Sydney, New South Wales. He was a ropemaker in civilian life, and was employed by the Australian Rope Works.
He was listed as missing for over twelve months, before a Court of Enquiry found that he had been killed in action sometime between the 7/12 August 1915, and had been buried in a small cemetery at Brown’s Dip, just behind the Lone Pine position, by Chaplain J.C. McPhee on 14 August 1915.
On account of the Browns Dip cemetery being subject to heavy flooding the graves were moved to the Lone Pine Cemetery during 1923.
Baird’s wife, Florence asked for the following inscription to be placed on her husband’s headstone,
“I have lost my life’s companion, A life linked with my own; God alone knows how I miss him, As I walk through life alone.”
However, it exceeded the 66-character limit and although it was suggested to Florence to shorten the inscription, his grave remains blank.
It seems that the confirmation of Baird’s death during August 1915 did not filter back to Sydney until November 1916, when his workmates placed the following death notice.
“BAIRD. -In fond memory of our brother and comrade, Private W. G. Baird, who was killed in action at Gallipoli between August 7 and 12, 1015. Inserted by the members of the Rope and Twine Makers Union of N.S.W.”
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