Baker, Alfred John Hallett

No.6279 – Pte Alfred John Hallett Baker  28^th Battalion AIF

Alfred John Hallett Baker was born in North Fremantle in 1888 to Alfred and Sarah Baker. He was the eldest child and he had his early years growing up in Fremantle. The family moved to Broken Hill NSW for a short period, where Richard Darcy Baker was born. The Bakers then returned to Western Australia where the third son William was born in 1899. After a period in Fremantle the family moved to Coolup, a small farming town just to the south of Pinjarra. Alfred had trained as a Carpenter but also helped his father on the family farm and in 1912 he married Ethel Watson. They continued to reside in Coolup and over the next four years had three children, Clarence, Roy and Margaret though unfortunately Roy would die while still a baby.

With the outbreak of war, Alfred had a young family and had the responsibility of running the farm, so he did not enlist straight away though it would have been an anguish watching his brother Richard being accepted into the AIF and sail off for war.

In February 1916 Alfred travelled up to Perth and he enlisted at the Swan Barracks in Perth. The medical examiner found him to be fit for service and recorded his physical attributes as; height of 5 feet 7 inches, weight of 127lbs, chest measurement of 32-35 inches, tanned complexion, brown eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was listed as Church of England

Upon his successful enlistment Alfred was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.50 Training Depot. He would learn the basics of infantry training here and on the 4^th April 1916 Alfred was transferred into the 13^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion. He remained with this group for two months but on the 5^th June 1916 he was moved to the 15^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion and was promoted to Corporal. This rank was for training purposes. Alfred remained with this group for several weeks but on the 2^nd August he came down severely ill and was sent to No.8 AGH in South Terrace Fremantle. Alfred was off sick for quite some time but after recovering he was returned to Blackboy Hill camp in early November 1916 where he was now assigned to the 18^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF. His younger brother William joined him in this reinforcement group. Alfred still held the rank of Corporal and he trained with this group for several more weeks. Their departure orders arrived just prior to the New Year and on the 29^th December 1916 Alfred and his group boarded the HMAT Persic in Fremantle Harbour and set sail for England, disembarking at Devonport England on the 3^rd March 1917.

When the men disembarked they were sent to the 7^th Training Battalion at Rollestone Camp on the Salisbury Plains. As the rank of Corporal was for the initial training and voyage only, on arrival in England Alfred had to revert to Private. However two days later his rank of Corporal was restored for the period of training in England.

(Photo - Alfred, Richard and William Baker)

Alfred would spend just over two months in England with the 7^th Training Battalion but during this period he was also given leave to see the sights of England. On the 22^nd May 1917 Alfred was put in a draft of soldiers heading from the 7^th Training Battalion for Southampton Harbour. They journeyed across the Channel to France and upon his arrival in Etaples Alfred was marched into the 2^nd Australian Division Base Depot. He now once again reverted from the rank of Corporal to Private.

Alfred had a few more weeks of training in this depot and on the 11^th June 1917 he left here to join his battalion. Alfred and his brother William were officially taken on strength of the 28^th Battalion on the 12^th June 1917. The 28^th were then on a three month rest from being in the front line and much of the time was taken up by training and sporting activities. Unfortunately William was wounded by a grenade in a training accident but he soon rejoined the unit.

In September 1917 the 28^th Battalion moved to Ypres to take part in the current offensive. Alfred took part in the Battle of Menin Road on the 20^th September 1917 and came through unscathed, though William was again wounded, being sent to England to recover. The 28^th Battalion were then sent out of the line to Reninghelst for a short rest. While in camp German planes came over and dropped bombs on where the 28^th Battalion were situated. A bomb exploded very close to Alfred’s tent and he suffered severe injuries to his skull when he was hit by shrapnel. He was quickly evacuated to the 5^th Field Ambulance and from there to the 10^th Casualty Clearing Station. Unfortunately, the fractured skull was too severe a wound and Alfred died the same day. He was buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium in plot XXV.B.6.

Unfortunately the family was soon relayed the news and they were devastated. His brother Richard Darcy Baker (born Broken Hill NSW) had been killed in August 1916 at Pozieres and William was in England severely wounded, though fortunately he would return to WA in 1918. Alfred’s wife Ethel and children Clarence & Margaret were granted pensions from the military after his death though all they received of his effects from Belgium were his identity disc, a wrist watch and gold ring.