George Alexander Baker

Submitted by wollongongcityl... on Wed, 23/07/2014 - 10:45

First Name:

George

Middle Name:

Alexander

Last Name:

Baker

Mother's Name:

Anne Baker

Father's Name:

Stephen Baker

Date Enlisted:

Monday, March 27, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Sapper

Unit:

Mining Corps

Company:

No 4 Tunnelling Company - 1 Reinforcements

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Saturday, July 23, 1949

Place of Death:

Prince Alfred Hospital

Details:

George Alexander Baker was born in 1875 to Stephen and Anne Baker. He married Elizabeth N (nee Adamson) in Wollongong, 1898. They lived together on Russell St Balgownie.

He enlisted on 27 March 1916 at the age of 41 and joined the Mining Corps 4 Tunnelling Company at the rank of sapper. He embarked on 22 May 1916 aboard HMAT Warilda A69.

Like many servicemen of the Illawarra, George’s son Tommy Baker also enlisted.

He was discharged on 26 December 1917 due to Chronic Synovitis after being administered and discharged from hospital a number of times during his service.

George’s welcome home was reported in the Illawarra Mercury: “Sapper G. Baker returned home on Monday evening last from the front and had a most hearty welcome by the band and citizens. He is not looking well, having been invalided home. Most of his work was put in at Hill 60, which has been so famous in this war’s operations.”

George Alexander Baker died at Prince Alfred Hospital on 23 July 1949. His obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald reads: “Baker, George Alexander – July 23 1949 at Prince Alfred Hospital beloved husband of Elizabeth, of Russell Street, Balgownie, and dear father of Tom, Lily (Mrs. S. Stapley of Dapto), George, Roy, and Monday, aged 75 years.”

Sources:

‘Balgownie,’ Illawarra Remembers, 30 November 1917, p.4.

NAA: B455, BAKER G A

‘Deaths,’ The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 July 1949, p.10.