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    Captain Thomas C.R. Baker, DFC, MM & bar

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    Name : Thomas Charles Richmond Baker
    Date of Birth : 2nd May 1897
    Place of Birth : Smithfield, South Australia
    Occupation : Bank Clerk
    Date of Enlistment : 29th July 1915
    Place of Enlistment : Adelaide, South Australia
    Flying Unit : 4 Sqn AFC
    Previous Unit : 16th Battery, 6th Field Artillery Brigade, AIF
    Service : Australian Flying Corps
    Theatres : France
    AIF Rank : Captain
    Awards : M.M - 15th December 1916
    M.M bar
    D.F.C - 8th February 1919
    Victories : 11 Aircraft and 1 Balloon
    Service Nickname :  
    AIF Fate : Killed In Action
    Date of AIF Fate : 4th November 1918
    Final Rank : Captain
    Date of Death : 4th November 1918
    Place of Death :  
    Cause of Death :  
    Notes : Possibly the victim of German Ace Karl Bolle.





    Biography of Captain Thomas C.R. Baker

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    Thomas Charles Richmond Baker was born on the 2nd of May 1897 in Smithfield, South Australia. After gaining employment as a Bank Clerk in early civilian life, Baker enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on the 29th of July, 1917 with the 6th Field Artillery Brigade. Baker was awarded the Military Medal in December 1916 for his work in repairing broken telephone wires while under fire at Guedencourt in France. Soon after Baker recieved a bar to the award, coming to the Australian Flying Corps in December of 1917 already a highly decorated soldier. After training in England and 60 hours of flying experience, Baker was transferred to 4 Squadron Australian Flying Corps in the summer of 1918.






Baker's Victory List

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    1918 - Camel

    31 July E1482 Fokker DVII OOC SW Estaires
    7 August E1482 Alb DV DES S Laventie
    24 August E1482 Balloon DES NE Estaires
    30 August E1482 DFW C. DES E Laventie
    1 October E1482 Alb C. DES Habourdin
    2 October E1482 Fokker DVII DES E Fromelles

    1918 - Snipe

    26 October E8069 Fokker DVII OOC E Tournai
    28 October E8092 Fokker DVII DES SE Tournai
    28 October E8092 Fokker DVII OOC Ath
    28 October E8092 Fokker DVII DES Ath
    29 October E8092 Fokker DVII DES Marcourt - Tournai
    30 October E8065 Fokker DVII OOC Leuze


    *. Victory information taken from "Above The Trenches : A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915 - 1920", Christopher Shores, Norman Franks and Russell Guest, 1990. More detail of the AFC ace victories are contained in the volume.





Baker's Roll of Honour Card

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    Name : Thomas Charles Richmond Baker, DFC, MM and Bar
    Number :  
    Rank : Captain
    Aircraft : Sopwith Snipe, E8062(1)
    Squadron : 4 Squadron
    Unit : Australian Flying Corps
    Service : Army
    Conflict : 1914 - 1918
    Date of Death : 4th November 1918
    Place of Death : Shot down in an engagement with German Scouts of Jasta 2 "Boelcke".
    Cause of Death : Killed in Action
    Memorial Panel : 188
    Cemetery or Memorial Details : Belgium 367 Escanaffles Communal Cemetery Hainault(2),(3),(4)
    Next of Kin : Son of Annie Martha Baker, of 55, Park Terrace, North Unley, South Australia, and the late Richmond Baker.
    Place of Enlistment : Adelaide, South Australia
    Native Place :  
    Source : AWM 145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army. Missing information on card and additional information added by AFC Website
    Notes :
    Possibly shot down by Rittmeister Karl Bolle of Jasta 2 "Boelcke".





    Lest We Forget.


    1. The supplement for "Above the Trenches" lists Baker's Snipe that he was shot down in as E8062, "Who Shot Down the Aces" lists Baker's Snipe he was shot down in as E8065. 2. Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour Card entry for Baker's memorial location.
    3. Commonwealth War Graves Commision Commemerative Roll entry for Baker's memorial location.
    4.Description of the Belgium 367 Escanaffles Communal Cemetery Hainault from the Commonwealth War Graves Commision, "The village of Escanaffles is located east of Ronse (Renaix) on the N391. From the E17 motorway turn off at junction 3, Kortrijk-Oost, and onto the N8 direction Zwevegem. Follow the N8 through Heestert and into the village of Avelgem. In the village turn right by the square into Kerkstraat and then right again onto the N353 direction Bossuit. At the junction with the N391 turn onto the N391 direction Escanaffles. In the village turn left at the crossroads into Place and at the T junction turn right, the cemetery is along on the right. The graves are located through the main entrance and to the right. The two War Graves are near the East boundary, North of the entrance. "





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