PropertyValue
rdf:type
rdfs:label
  • Thomas Baker (aviator)
rdfs:comment
  • Thomas Charles Richmond Baker DFC, MM & Bar (2 May 1897 – 4 November 1918) 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. He was employed as a clerk with the Bank of New South Wales, before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915, for service in World War I. Posted to an artillery unit on the Western Front, he was awarded the Military Medal for carrying out numerous repairs on a communications line while subject to severe artillery fire. In June 1917, Baker was awarded a bar to his decoration for his part in quelling a fire in one of the artillery gun pits that was endangering approximately 300 rounds of shrapnel and high expl
owl:sameAs
Unit
  • * 16th Battery, 6th Field Artillery Brigade *
dcterms:subject
dbkwik:military/property/wikiPageUsesTemplate
serviceyears
  • 1914
Birth Date
  • 1897-05-02
Branch
  • *
death place
Name
  • Thomas Baker
Caption
  • Thomas Baker as a cadet pilot c.1917
Birth Place
  • Smithfield, South Australia, Australia
Awards
  • *
death date
  • 1918-11-04
Rank
Image size
  • 220
Battles
Alt
  • A head and shoulders portrait of a young man with dark hair in military uniform. He is wearing a cap tilted on one side of his head, and has a medal ribbon on his breast.
placeofburial
  • Escanaffles Communal Cemetery
Birth name
  • Thomas Charles Richmond Baker
abstract
  • Thomas Charles Richmond Baker DFC, MM & Bar (2 May 1897 – 4 November 1918) 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. He was employed as a clerk with the Bank of New South Wales, before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915, for service in World War I. Posted to an artillery unit on the Western Front, he was awarded the Military Medal for carrying out numerous repairs on a communications line while subject to severe artillery fire. In June 1917, Baker was awarded a bar to his decoration for his part in quelling a fire in one of the artillery gun pits that was endangering approximately 300 rounds of shrapnel and high explosive. In September 1917, Baker applied for a position as a mechanic in the Australian Flying Corps. He was instead selected for flight training, and was posted to courses in the United Kingdom. He graduated as a pilot and was commissioned a second lieutenant in March 1918. Posted for active duty in France that June, Baker joined the ranks of No. 4 Squadron AFC. Over the next four months, he rose to the rank of captain and was credited with bringing down 12 German aircraft. He was shot down and killed on 4 November 1918. In February 1919, he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.