David Baker
- Appointment
- Driver
- Service number
- 2635
- Unit
- 3 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron
- Cause of death
- Died of Illness
- Place of death
- Damascus, Syria
- Date of death
- 21 October 1918
- Age
- 31
- Plaque number
- M556
- Dedicated by
- Family on 18 February 2017
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Driver David Baker of 3 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron was born in August 1887. He was one of four sons and three daughters of Elizabeth and Alfred Baker who lived at Lowther, New South Wales.
David left South Wales around 1902 for Western Australia to join some of his siblings and took up farming at Dudinin near Wickepin in the eastern wheatbelt area.
He enlisted in the army in November 1915 and after initial training at Blackboy Hill Army Camp he was posted to 10 Light Horse Regiment.
His contingent sailed from Fremantle bound for Egypt in June 1916 on board RMS Morea as part of the 15 to 20 Reinforcement group.
After further training at Tel el Kebir he was transferred to 3 Brigade Machine Gun section.
In September 1916, he was sent to hospital with malaria and after a short period, back to his unit. He then went back to hospital in Damascus in October 1916.
Driver David Baker, service number 2635 of 3 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, died of illness (malaria) on 21 October 1916 at the French hospital, Damascus, Syria.
He was 31 years of age and is buried in the Commonwealth War Cemetery, Damascus, Syria.