Karen Evans shares the story of her family – three men from the Baker family who served in the Great War.

VALENTINE NEWTON BAKER

1872 – born Colac
1897 – married Rebecca Briggs nee Sessions
1909 – Benalla, Samaria West – labourer
1914 – Taminick, Wangaratta – labourer
1915 – ANZAC – France & Belgium
1919 – Rugby Park, Lima South Benalla – farmer
1924  – Rugby Park, Lima South Benalla – farmer
1942 – Benalla – labourer
1968 – died

PERCY BAKER
1893 – born Colac
Next next of kin – Miss E Primmer
1916 – died

3453 Private (Pte) Percy Baker, 21st Battalion, of Colac, Vic. Pte Baker enlisted on 16 July 1915 and embarked aboard HMAT Demosthenes on 29 December 1915. He was killed in action on 19 July 1916 during the Battle of Fromelles in France while serving with the 59th Battalion. This picture taken in 1915 in Broadmeadows.

Percy’s older brother, Bert, was my grandfather. He named my father Percy in honour of the brother he lost in the war. The final photo shows myself with my father Percy.

HUIE BAKER
1895 – born Colac
1915 – No. 3454 – saw his brother Percy die at Fromelles and he himself was wounded in action. Vera was his de facto and they had 8 children.
1984 – died Castlemaine