{"id":3095,"date":"2020-11-01T22:48:16","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T14:48:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/countryairstrips.com.au\/?p=3095"},"modified":"2020-11-01T23:32:33","modified_gmt":"2020-11-01T15:32:33","slug":"thomas-baker-aviator","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/countryairstrips.com.au\/thomas-baker-aviator\/","title":{"rendered":"Thomas Baker: Aviator"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Captain Thomas Baker in his Sopwith Camel Aircraft<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Baker aviator, was a distinguished Australian pilot who received many military medals for his heroic efforts in the First World War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Charles Richmond Baker<\/strong>, DFC, MM & Bar (2 May 1897 \u2013 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>, 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 <\/a>explosive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September 1917, Baker applied for a position as a mechanic in the Australian Flying Corps<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early life of Thomas Baker Aviator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thomas Charles Richmond Baker was born in Smithfield, South Australia, on 2 May 1897, the eldest son of Richmond Baker, a schoolmaster and farmer, and his wife Annie Martha (n\u00e9e Gardner). He was educated at St Peter’s College in Adelaide. During his school years, Baker was an active sportsman, taking part in rowing, tennis and football, in addition to being a member of the cadet corps. In his youth, he acquired an avid interest in aviation, and the construction of model aeroplanes became “his chief hobby”. Graduating from secondary school in 1914, he gained employment as a clerk with the Adelaide branch of the Bank of New South Wales. During this time, he joined the 11th Royal Australian Engineers of the Citizens <\/a>Military Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First World War<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Australian Imperial Force<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On 29 July 1915, Baker enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force for service during the First World War. Allocated as a reinforcement to the 6th Field Artillery Brigade with the rank of gunner, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Persic<\/em> on 22 November, bound for Egypt. On arrival, Baker was posted to the 16th Battery before moving to France for service on the Western Front. Disembarking in France on 1 July 1916, Baker took part in the Somme offensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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