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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 : |
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AIF Fate : |
Killed In Action |
Date of AIF Fate : |
4th November 1918 |
Final Rank : |
Captain |
Date of Death : |
4th November 1918 |
Place of Death : |
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Cause of Death : |
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Notes : |
Possibly the victim of German Ace Karl Bolle. |
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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
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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
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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 |
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*. 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 : |
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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
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Native Place : |
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Source : |
AWM 145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army. Missing information on card and additional information added by AFC Website |
Notes :
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Possibly shot down by Rittmeister Karl Bolle of Jasta 2 "Boelcke".
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Lest We Forget. |
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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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