251523 Pte. Reginald Baker Australian Imperial Forces 13th Battalion (d.11th Apr 1917) Reginald Baker was born in Tuena to Stephen and Katherine A Baker. He joined the Australian Imperial Force, he was aged 21 years 4 months. He was 5'9" 142lbs blue eyes brown hair. His trade was a station hand. Papers state that he was born in Abercrombie, which is not correct, he was born in Tuena, NSW. In 1920 his parents were living in Portland NSW,where his medals and memorial scroll were sent.
He was appointed to the 8th Reinforcement 13th Battalion.
On 30th of October 1915 he reportedly had shoulder infection, put down to paratitis in Cairo. He proceeded to join MEF in Alexandria on 4th of November 1915 and joined 13th Battalion in Gallipoli on the 13th of November 1915. On evacuation, he disembarked at Alexandria ex Mudros per HT Tunisian on the 3rd of January 1916 and proceeded to join BEF ex Alexandria on the 1st of June 1916, then disembarked in Marseilles on the 8th of June 1916. Reginald received a gun shot wound on 29th of June 1916 and was evacuated on the St Denis from Boulogne for England.
He was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on 2nd of July 1916 with back and skull wounds.
By 23rd of September 1916 headed back overseas to France.
He suffered from VD for a good while and was admitted on 29th of December 1916 to the 51st General Hospital at Etaples.
He was discharged for duty and marched out to his unit from Etaples on the in March 1917, he was sick a total period of 81 days.
He reported to 13th Battalion on 20th of March 1917.
20 days later on 14th of April 1917 he was reported missing in action in France, a Court of Enquiry held in October found he was Killed in Action at Bullecourt.
A Letter to Stephen Baker on 28th of June 1921 says with regret the Graves Service Unit has been unable to find Reginald's final resting place. It requested that any letters or communications they had that referred to the circumstances surrounding his death be supplied to aid the identification of bodies that were being recovered so that they wouldn't become an unknown Australian soldier, in the new Military Cemeteries.
His father Stephen Baker signed the receipt for issue of a Memorial Scroll on 13th of October 1921 and Kings message, then a Memorial Plaque for his son Reginald on 28th of September 1922 and his Victory Medal on 13th of March 1923. He was entitled to a 1914-15 Star Medal, a British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
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