Baker, Ernest Arthur

22478 Sergeant Major Ernest Arthur Baker - 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column

Ernest Arthur Baker was born in Westminster London England in 1886 to Ernest and Carol Baker. He had four siblings, Arthur (1874), Margaret (1879), Caroline (1881) and Joseph (1882).

The family left England and went to Canada in the 1890's. Ernest then came out to Western Australia with his father in the 1900's.

In 1909 he was living in Canning Road East Fremantle and in 1911 was living at the Madrid Cafe in Fremantle.

In 1913 Ernie married Elsie Gladys Skeggs and took up residence in Quarry Street Fremantle.

Ernest was working as a Lumper on Fremantle Wharf and during this time he had also served in the Garrison Artillery in Fremantle.

On the 23rd October 1915, Ernest enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 7 & 3/4 inches tall;

Weight - 158lbs;

Chest Measurement - 35-39 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment, Arthur was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.34 Training Depot. He remained there for six weeks but was then transferred to the Artillery Reinforcements.

The main Artillery training camp was in Victoria, so with other WA artillery reinforcements he was shipped from Fremantle to Port Melbourne. Upon arrival in Victoria Ernie was sent to Maribyrnong Camp.

He trained there for the next few months and initially his rank was Gunner and he was then promoted to Battery Sergeant Major.

On the 20th May 1916 Ernie embarked from Port Melbourne aboard the troopship HMAT Medic as a member of the 23rd Howitzer Brigade. They arrived at Plymouth England on the 18th July 1916.

They were then disembarked and sent into the 3rd Division Training grounds at the Salisbury Plains. They trained hard for the next few months but on the 3rd October 1916 Ernie was transferred to the 3rd Australian Division Ammunition Column.

Ernie remained in England until the 24th January 1917 when he travelled over to France. Through 1917 he was either at the 8th Field Artillery Brigade or the 3rd Division Ammunition Column.

News would have soon come through to Ernie of his brother Joseph's death in France on the 5th December 1916 while serving with the 13th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force. He is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery France.

Ernie served at Messines from June to August 1917 and then in the Third Battle of Ypres from September to November 1917. He came through these actions unscathed and he remained with his unit while they were in Belgium from December 1917 to March 1918.

In April 1918 he was sent to hospital sick and was diagnosed with debility. He was sent to the 39th Stationary Hospital and then the 30th General Hospital at Calais. He was there for several weeks, eventually rejoining his unit on the 13th June 1918.

When he rejoined the 3rd Division Ammunition Column they were then on the Villers-Bretonneux front.

On the 17th July 1918 Ernie was given a fortnight's leave to England, returning to his unit on the 2nd August 1918. He was with his unit when the great advance of 8th August 1918 commenced and the next few months would have been a busy time as the Australians continually advanced. Ernie would have been kept busy with ensuring ammunition and supplies were reaching the forward areas.

While the Australian infantry were withdrawn in early October 1918, the Australian Artillery continued in action till late October 1918. Ernie came through this period unscathed.

After the Armistice, the Australians went to what had been German occupied parts of France and Belgium. In March 1919 Ernie was struck down with influenza though fortunately he recovered but then was sent to England and was admitted to the 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital as he had also been diagnosed with venereal disease.

He soon recovered and Ernie requested a period of Non Military Employment and initially he attended the LCC School of Building in Clapham. This course and other work experience would last from May to November 1919.

On the 7th November 1919 Ernie left England aboard the transport ship Marathon and returned to Western Australia, disembarking in Fremantle on the 19th December 1919.

After his return home he resided at 92 Queen Victoria Street Fremantle. The family then moved to Victoria in the early 1920's

Ernest and Elsie were divorced in Victoria in 1926. Ernie did not re-marry but he remained in Victoria for the remainder of his life. He died on the 6th September 1967 at Ripponlea in Victoria.