Thomas Charles Richmond Baker DFC MM (1897 - 1918)

Ancestors

Visit: Escanaffles Communal Cemetery

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  Virtual Memorial Rich Baker DFC MM . . . and photos . .
  

Biography

Captain Thomas Charles Richmond "Rich" Baker DFC MM and Bar, was an Australian soldier, aviator, and flying ace of the First World War. Born in Smithfield, South Australia, he was an active sportsman in his youth and developed a keen interest in aviation.

Thomas Charles Richmond Baker was born in 2nd May 1897 at Smithfield, ^[1]
South Australia. He was the eldest son of Richmond Baker, schoolmaster and farmer, and Annie Martha Gardner.^[2] Rich was just eleven years of age when his father passed away. Having served in the Junior Cadets at school (compulsory military training scheme), he enlisted in the 11th Field Company Army Engineers of the Citizens Military Force. He obtained employment on 2nd February 1915 as a junior clerk with the Bank of New South Wales (Westpac Bank), in Adelaide.

On 29th July 1915, Rich enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force upon the outbreak of the First World War.^[3] Baker was posted to the 16th Battery, 6th Brigade Field Artillery (1st Reinforcements) as a Gunner, embarking from Melbourne, Victoria, on 22nd November 1915 aboard HMAT A34 Persic. He served on the Western Front in the Battle of the Somme, Battle of Messines, and the Hundred Days Offensive.
He was awarded the Military Medal (MM) for bravery on 19th February 1917 (recommendation date: 15th December 1916); his citation reading,

(MM)

At Gueudecourt as telephonist to Forward Observer Officer showed great gallantry on the 11th December, 1916. The Observation Post was on a forward slope in our front line system and under observation and constant attention of enemy snipers. Baker when endeavouring to maintain communication went four times through enemy barrage, which ultimately completely destroyed the Observation Post trench, and repaired the line in thirty places while under heavy fire. During the last six weeks Baker has on several occasions rendered equally good service and shown great devotion to duty. ^[4]

Baker was awarded a Bar to his Military Medal on 21st August 1917 for, at great personal risk, putting out a fire in a gun-pit containing ammunition.^[5]

Always interested in aviation, he transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in October 1917 as an air mechanic, but he was selected for flying and sent to England to No. 5 Training Squadron. Baker made his first solo flight in March 1918 and graduated as a pilot on 15th June, being commisssioned as a Second Lieutenant. Shortly afterward, he was promoted Lieutenant and appointed flight-commander of 4th Squadron, piloting both Sopwith Camel and Sopwith Snipe aircraft on operations over France, Belgium and Germany. He was credited with shooting down eight German aircraft and forcing down another four. Several of these victories were against the highly effective Fokker biplane fighter; often closing to three to seven metres before destroying them. In just over four months he flew about forty low level missions against ground troops and installations.

Sadly, less than a year after he took this selfie, ^[6] he was killed in action over Ath, Wallonie, Belgium, on 4th November 1918 - just a week before the end of the war. He was 21. He is buried at Escanaffles Communal Cemetery, Hainault, Belgium.
Thomas Charles Richmond Baker's name is located at panel 187 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.^[7]

Rich Baker was posthumously promoted Captain and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1919; the citation reading,

(DFC)

This officer has carried out some forty low flying raids on hostile troops, aerodromes, etc., and has taken part in numerous offensive patrols; he has, in addition, destroyed eight hostile machines. In all these operations he has shown exceptional initiative and dash, never hesitating to lead his formation against overwhelming odds, nor shrinking from incurring personal danger.^[8]

People – LifeTree

A stained-glass window is dedicated to his memory in St John's Anglican Church, Halifax Street, Adelaide.^[9]

• WW1 Airmen - November Tree

• Thomas Charles Baker Commonwealth Gazette via
  Australian Defence Force Academy: accessed 17 Jul 2018.
• Thomas Baker (aviator); Wikipedia: accessed 17 Jul 2018.

Sources

1. ↑ McCarthy, John. Baker, Thomas Charles (1897–1918). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,
   published first in hardcopy 1979, accessed online 17 July 2018.
2. ↑ South Australia Birth Index #605/255 1897
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial Nominal roll: 9470 Lieutenant Thomas Charles Baker; accessed 17 Jul 2018
4. ↑ 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 116, 25th July 1917
5. ↑ 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219, 20th December 1917
6. ↑ Virtual War Memorial: Thomas Charles Baker; accessed 17 Jul 2018
7. ↑ Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour: Thomas Charles Richmond Baker; accessed 17 July 2018
8. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Thomas Charles Richmond Baker; accessed 17 Jul 2018
9. ↑ Davies, Nathan World War I SA pilot Thomas Baker was killed in a dogfight — 100 years ago, The Advertiser, 3 November 2018