William John Baxter (1887 - 1917)

Born 2 Mar 1887 in Wingatui, Taieri, Otago, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 29 Dec 1917 at age 30 in Ypres, Belgium

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William Baxter is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Sgt William Baxter was Wounded in Action during World War I.

Biography

REMEMBRANCE GATHERING - ENFIELD MEMORIAL, OAMARU - 29 DECEMBER 2017 TO MARK THE DEATH OF WILLIAM JOHN BAXTER - 100TH ANNIVERSARY (Details attached)

William was born in 1887 at Wingatui on the outskirts of Dunedin and was the son of Matthew Baxter and Catherine Elliott.

Matthew and Catherine Baxter ran a farm that was situated between Oamaru and Weston.

William was educated at Brighton and Middlemarch schools and lastly attended Waitaki Boys High in Oamaru.

William was known to friends and family as 'Bill' and worked as a farm labourer for the Meek family at Teaneraki, Enfield. His last employment before leaving for overseas was working for his uncle, Paterson Baxter.

William was 28 when he enlisted on June 12 1915 WWI - rank- Private - Reg No 8/2842 unit - D Company,7th reinforcements. He and the other local boys were all farewelled by the community before they set off for Trentham training camp. Despite no previous military experience he relished the companionship and life style the army offered.

William embarked from Wellington on the troop ship 'Aparima' October 9 1915 destination Suez, Eygpt arriving November 30. On disembarking he went into the Moascar Camp just prior to the evacuation of the Anzac's from Gallipoli. William was transferred to the new 2nd Otago Battalion. Sent to France, he was promoted to Lance Corporal but relinquished the rank at his request two months later.

As were so many others, William was wounded in one of the Sommes battles on 21 September 1916 receiving gunshot wounds to his leg. He was processed through a number of hospitals and later transferred to Hornchurch General hospital and later to Grey Friars General (2nd London General) in Chelsea. After recuperating he took leave and went to visit his uncle and cousins in Belfast. Like others who breached their leave permission and were late back to camp William was put on the mat and deprived of 21 days pay for the 3 weeks absence and was transferred to a new battalion, the 3rd Otago Battalion which was just being formed. Inside the new battalion his leadership skills came to the fore. In the latter part of 1917 he rose quickly in rank to Lance Sergeant.

On December 2 1917, William wrote to his family back in New Zealand. His address given as 'Underground Villa'. William seemed in good spirits after receiving mail from New Zealand and was looking forward to receiving his cake from home before Xmas.

At Polderhoek, he along with his 3rd Battalion section were briefly attached to the 4th Field Company of the NZ Engineers to assist in performing some of their duties. In his last days, William's regiment was subjected to heavy artillery fire by the Germans. While in the support line near Polygon Wood a shell caught William and lapsing into unconsciousness he never recovered. William was wounded in action in Ypres Belgium, age 30 on December 27, just 2 days after Xmas and is buried at Buttes, New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood in Belgium. The regiment remained in the sector where William had fallen until February the following year. Despite the allies efforts the Germans maintained control.

Williams last unit that he served in was the Otago Infantry Regiment-3rd Battalion, 10th Company. His 1st rank was Private and over the term of his service Lance Corporal, Corporal and Lance Sergeant.

Authorisation by the NZ Army in 1921 had William's medals -1914-15 Star, British War medal and Victory medal, sent to his father Matthew in Weston, Oamaru. The township of Oamaru organised a memorial oak planting for their fallen boys and Matthew was to submit a request that a memorial tree plaque be placed for his son Sgt William John Baxter. William is recorded on the War Memorial at Enfield and also at Ardgowan, Oamaru.

A letter received by family from William's company commander Captain Hartnell passed on from one section member we have the lost the best friend we have

Probate of William Baxter's Will was given to his father Matthew Baxter.

Lance Sergeant William John Baxter's grave is located at Buttes New British Cemetery, Zonnebeke, Arrondissement Ieper, West Flanders (West-Vlaanderen), Belgium. I. B. 15.

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Sources

• Find A Grave: Memorial #12081146
• https://www.fieldsofremembrance.org.nz/research/Roll+of+Honour.html DECEMBER 1917
• https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/480111/baxter,-william-john/

• http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C38147?n=william%20john%20baxter&ordinal=2&from=%2Fwar-memorial%2Fonline-cenotaph%2Fsearch
• http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE10779057

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24K-4WM3 BIRTH
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-LMPG PROBATE

• https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz Oamaru Mail 15/6/1915, 14/1/1918 pg 4, Otago Daily Times' 14/1/1918 For the Empires Cause,14/1/1918 Roll of Honour, 28/1/1918 In Loving Remembrance Out of copyright

• T Stewart
• Oamaru Museum archives
• The Waiareka Warriors'  : author - Lindsay Malcolm

• Faye Whitfield Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by Faye and others.

1. ↑ Entered by Faye Whitfield, Jul 17, 2012