The Baker Boys Series

Ross and Les Baker were born in Milparinka, far northwest NSW. In 1915 and 1916 they enlisted to serve in World War One. Ross was killed in action in 1917, while Les was badly wounded but survived and returned home in 1919. During the war, they wrote many letters home, later transcribed by Les’s daughter, Sandra Schneider. These letters form the basis of this project, and serve as a tribute to the Baker brothers and the many others who served.

Milparinka, named “Evelyn” in 1844 by explorer Charles Sturt, lies along an ancient creek. Sturt camped at nearby Mount Poole and had peaceful contact with the local Malyangapa people. After Sturt left in 1845, the Malyangapa lived undisturbed until pastoralists arrived in the 1860s. A gold discovery on Mount Poole Station in 1880 brought a rush of miners. After surveying in the 1880s, Milparinka was proclaimed a town, supplying the Albert Goldfields.

Around 1880, Robert Baker and sons Jeremiah, William, Edward, Daniel, and Thomas arrived from Tasmania via Deniliquin. Robert’s wife Bridget stayed in Deniliquin. The men worked as fencers, stockmen, publicans, and storekeepers. Jeremiah helped surveyor John Brewer Cameron mark the NSW-SA-QLD border. Daughters, Rose, Catherine, and Louise also moved to Milparinka.

In 1892 Jeremiah married Ellen Callaghan and had five children: Ross, Lez (Mick), Letitia (Girlie), John (Jack), Helen (Nell), and Barbara (Bubs). The children went to school in Milparinka and the boys worked on stations.

When WWI broke out in 1914, public meetings and recruitment drives were held at Milparinka and Tibooburra. Recruits gathered in Tibooburra, then travelled to Broken Hill for onward training. Among them were Ross and Les Baker.

Ross enlisted first with postmaster William Francis Keelty on 31 August 1915. After training in Adelaide, he sailed for Egypt on 11 January 1916, joining the 48th Battalion and later the 4th Divisional Ammunition Column as a driver, thanks to his stockman experience. He was killed in action at Passchendaele on 19 October 1917.

Les enlisted shortly after Ross. He embarked in February 1917, joined the 10th Battalion in France in May, but was seriously wounded in October near Estaples. After five months of rehabilitation in England, he transferred to the 5th Division Signal School, though frequent illness persisted. Les returned to Australia on 18 January 1919 aboard the Ulysses.

Thanks for listening. 

Be sure to tune into The Baker Boys, Episode 1. Ross. August 1915 to January 1916.