BAKER Ernest Walter

Ernest (Erny) Walter Baker was born on 20 June 1886 at Uralla in the Parish of Armidale, New England District. His birth was registered at Bundarra, New South Wales in 1886, Registration No. 31024. He was the elder son of James Henry Baker (1862 - 1951) and Agnes Catherine (Kate) nee' Hunt Baker (1863 - 1913) having 9 siblings: Charles Albert (1887 - 1920); Ebenezer (1891 - 1917); Rose Ellen (1892 - ?); William Reuben (1894 - 1972); Eveline (1896 - ?) Amy (1897 - ?); Alfred Henry (1899 - 1968); Leslie Thomas 1903 - ?); Lily May 1905 - ?). (see below for the WW1 Service of Charles, Ebenezer and William.)

According to family information, Erny's childhood was spent around Manilla and on his father's property called "Westgrove" which was on the Boggarbri Road. James Baker (Father) sold this property and moved to Manilla. His wife, Kate, did not want to leave the station nor did the boys. James bought a hotel. After Kate died in 1913 James became friendly with a Mrs. Hollis and her two sons. The Baker boys, not liking the woman, left home. Three of them came to Queensland doing bush work and droving.

Erny Baker was felling timber in the Kingaroy District when he enlisted in Brisbane, Queensland on 28 September 1915. He was given Regimental No 2148 and placed in 5th Light Horse Regiment.
Occupation: Farmer, Next of Kin: Father - Mr James Baker, Tattersalls Hotel, Bowling Alley Point, via Tamworth, NSW.
Personal Description: Height - 5'5", Weight - 9 st 11 lbs, Chest - 34 - 35½", Complexion - Dark, Eyes - Brown, Hair - Black, Religion - Church of England. Scar on left shin, scar on upper lip. Religion - Church of England.
28 September to 13 November 1915: No 1 Depot Squadron 15/5 Light Horse
11 March 1916 Private Ernest Baker embarked from Sydney, NSW on board HMAT A 67 Orsova and was taken on strength 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment, Tel-el-Kebir.
24 April 1916: To Hospital from 2nd Light Horse Training Regiment. Admitted No 2 Stationary Hospital (mumps)
11 May 1916: Rejoined unit from Hospital. Discharged to Duty from No 2 Stationary Hosp.
2 November 1916: Taken on Strength of 4th Australian Camel Regiment, Abbassia (4th Camel Regiment: Formed Egypt 10 November 1916 from 1st Light Horse Double Squadron and 2nd Light Horse Double Squadron. Broken up to form 17th and 18th Camel Companies 3 February 1917. Egypt)
6 July 1916: Taken on Strength 2nd Double Squadron at Serapeum where he stayed until 2 November when taken on strength of 4th Camel Regiment, Abbassia.
28 December: Sick to hospital - Cairo, Egypt and admitted to No 14 Australian General Hospital with 'bunions' recorded on Statement of Service. In another entry on Casualty Form the hospitalisation is recorded: 'ulcerve gingivitis' followed by: 'bunion on foot'. The following February he was discharged to Convalescent Depot and then Australian & New Zealand Reserve Company Imperial Camel Company. His transfer had been set in place on 7 February, whilst in hospital.
29 March 1917: transferred to I. C. C. Abbassia from there he was placed in No 4 Battalion and taken on strength of Reserve Company Ismailia, where he appears to have remained until early May when he was admitted to No. 26 Stationary Hospital on 6 May and then to No 14 Australian General Hospital at Cairo, this time with V. D. G. He spent a period of 42 days being treated until he was declared 'cured' on 17 June 1917.

Crime - 20 June 1917 - Reporting sick without a cause. Deprived of one day's pay 5/-.

Health issues saw Erny in and out of hospital care with postings back with the Reserve Camp and Details Camp at Abbassia. In October he was diagnosed with "arthritis of phalange metatarsal joint of big toe'. He was Classified "B2". 2 February 1918 he marched out to Australian Base Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps. By September 1918 Erny's old injury with his right foot was giving him a lot of trouble. Erny's family history shows that "Erny was wounded in the foot and refused to be sent home. He spent the rest of his war service in a Medical Unit". His Soldier's Pay Book shows that he is placed in 5th Australian Light Horse Field Ambulance of the Australian Camel Field Ambulance.
15 March 1919: Embarked to return to Australia per H. T. "Euripides".
15 June 1919: Discharged from 1st Military District.
Awarded Medals: British War Medal No. 12889 and Victory Medal No. 12797

When Erny came home he brought from the war with him personal belongings to be given to Marion Margaret nee' Nimmo McArthur from her deceased husband who was killed in action whilst beside Erny. After giving the belongings to Marion they became friends and married on 17 January 1920. Erny and Marion had three children - Norman James; born 26 June 1921 and at the age of 18 years died in May 1939 due to a shooting accident at Montville. - Myrtle Marion born 26 June 1924 and Walter Raymond born 11 October 1926.

Erny took up Soldier Settlement Block 584, 585 and was associated with 600 at Glass House Mountains, Reference 1922 Parish of Beerwah Map. Norman James and Myrtle Marion were born on the pineapple plantation at Glass House but the family had moved to Diamond Valley on the Mooloolah River to a mixed farm by the time Walter Raymond was born in 1926.

Erny, Marion and their children moved to Montville in 1935, share farming on the Obi Obi Creek. Marion died on 27 June 1936 and Erny married Helen Callaghan on 22 June 1938. The children of Erny's second marriage were John, Hazel, William and Vivian.

In 1941 Erny put his age back 10 years to join the Australian Army Catering Corps. He was ready to go to the islands when he was stricken with chicken pox. He was transferred to duty in Australia until the end of the War.

Erny and Helen's two sons, John and William joined the Army. One enlisted for 4 1/2 years and the other for 10 years. They were never posted out of Australia.

Ernest Walter Baker died on 11 December 1966 at Montville, Queensland aged 80 years and was buried at Woombye Cemetery.

The WW1 Service Details of Ernest Baker's Brothers.
Charles Albert Baker - No. 4336 had already enlisted on 6 January 1915. Charles had prior military service of 2 years in the 6th Australian Light Horse. His war service included Egypt, Gallipoli, and Western Front. He returned to Australia and was discharged on 16 April 1919. Family history indicates that Charles was badly gassed and died on 10th April 1920.

Ebenezer Baker –No. 264 enlisted on 28 October 1915 and served in 42nd Battalion. He was Killed in Action on 11 June 1917 at Messines, Belgium and is buried at Bethlehem Farm West Cemetery (Row A, Grave No. 20), Messines, Belgium. Panel number 135, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial.

William Reuben Baker – No. 4731 enlisted on 11 November 1915 and served initially in 4th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement in Egypt and then on 2 May 1916 was transferred to 45th Battalion before serving on the Western Front and became a Lance Corporal. William received a gunshot wound to the right leg in France in August 1918 and was discharged and returned to Australia 24 December 1918.

Headstone photo cp
Baker Family History and photos supplied by Ralph Norris a relative of Ernest Baker on behalf of his familly.
Extra information added by Robyn Webster for Administrators Adopt a Digger.