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Cenotaph record

John Alexander Baty

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Nominal Roll Vol 3 (Roll 57), Page: 8 - No known copyright restrictions

Nominal Roll Vol 3 (Roll 57), Page: 8 - No known copyright restrictions

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    John Alexander AWMM
  • Surname
    Baty AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
  • Service number
    WWI 41734 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Presbyterian, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    27 October 1887 Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra Gisborne, Gisborne Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
    Son of William John & Matilda BATY of Gisborne Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 June 2023 - NZ BDM Birth Records
  • Address before enlistment
    Farmer at Manutuke, Gisborne Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 June 2023 - Military Record
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    W.J. Baty (father), Manutuke, Gisborne, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Single
    1919 John Alexander BATY married Mary Violet SHERWOOD Public - Lorraine Mona - Researcher - 27 June 2023 - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/205875918/john-alexander-baty

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
  • Campaign
    1914-1919 Western Front AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 41734 AWMM
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal and bar (MM*) AWMM
      Military Medal - 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On the morning of the 15th April in the vicinity of Hebuterne Pte Baty led a patrol down a sap towards an occupied enemy post. The enemy saw our patrol approaching and fired on our patrol at a few feet range. Pte Baty with great coolness and courage stepped to the side of the trench and covered the withdrawal of the remainder with his rifle, killing one of the enemy before withdrawing himself. Later in the same day Baty led a bombing party against this post, and after a lively exchange of bombs, again covered the withdrawal of his patrol. Still later in the day Baty led a third party against this enemy post to within a few feet. This time the enemy had been greatly reinforced, and as soon as Baty threw the first bomb the enemy immediately threw back between 10 and 12 all along the sap. Baty remained in the sap throwing bombs back, ignoring the enemy bombs which were falling all around him, until an enemy bomb exploded in his face, severely wounding his head and body. Throughout the day Baty behaved with splendid courage and coolness, showing fine initiative and an utter contemp of danger. Baty's conduct throughout was a splendid example to all ranks.' - 'London Gazette'- 29/08/1918|136 - Bar to Military Medal - 'For great gallantry, skill, and devotion to duty. On the night 30th September/October 1st near Crevecoeur while in charge of an advance party of Scouts Corporal Baty carried out a reconnaissance in the dark, over unknown country the route to the position of assembly for his Battalion to attack Crevecoeur. During this reconnaissance Corporal Baty showed great gallantry and skill under heavy enemy shell and machine gun fire, and in spite of which he succeeded in guiding his Battal;ion to the position of assembly. Later on the same day notwithstanding that he had been continuously on duty for forty eight hours he went forward with the attack and sent back most valuable information during a most critical situation due to a strong enemy counter attack. Later he was seriously wounded while carrying out a reconnaissance of the ground beyond the objective under heavy machine gun and rifle fire. - 'London Gazette'- 14/05/1919 AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • Victory Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW1 Unknown AWMM Farm hand/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    • Height, WWI AWMM
      5' 5.25" AWMM
    • Weight, WWI AWMM
      139 lb AWMM

Last known rank

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  • Last rank

Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Embarked Wellington on board 'Ruapahu', 14 March 1917; disembarked Devonport, England, 21 May 1917.
    Proceeded overseas to France, 22 June 1917.
    Joined 2nd Bn, Wellington Regiment, and posted to 7 Company.
    Wounded in action, 17 April 1918 (gun shot wound, right arm and face), and admitted to 3rd Canadian Stationary Hospital; transferred to 9th General Hospital, 18 April 1918; discharged to No 2 Convalescent Depot, 23 April 1918; to Base Depot, 26 April 1918; rejoined unit, 25 May 1918.
    Awarded Military Medal, 3 May 1918.
    Promoted Corporal, 1 June 1918.
    Detached to School of Instruction, 19 June 1918; rejoined unit from detachment, 4 July 1918.
    Wounded in action (second occasion), 1 October 1918; admitted to 18th General Hospital, 3 October 1918 (gun shot wound, right arm and thigh); transferred to England, 20 October 1918, and admitted to 2nd NZ General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames, 21 October 1918; transferred to Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, 3 December 1918.
    Awarded Bar to Military Medal, 31 October 1918.
    Commenced return to New Zealand on board 'Zealandic', 18 January 1919; discharged (no longer physically fit for war service on account of wounds received in action), 28 March 1919.
    Total war service: 2 years 86 days (of which 1 year 352 days was abroad)
    Medals: Military Medal & Bar, British War Medal, Victory Medal

    Parents: William John and Matilda Baty (both b. New Zealand) AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Military personnel file
    https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en-NZ/web/arena/search#/entity/aims-archive/R22273483
    Further Reference
  • References
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM
    • McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1918). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume III. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      57: 8 AWMM
    • NZEF Peter Dennis, UNSW Canberra AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 2: Includes portrait AWMM
    • The parting of the ways : a souvenir record of the triumphs, tribulations and maritime musings of returning draft H.M.N.Z.T No. 217, 'Zealandic'. January 18th, 1919 to February 26th, 1919. AWMM

Contributors

Command item
Command item
Add new record Refresh
DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
20 March 2024Lorraine Mona GisborneResearcher
29 July 2017JeniferWairarapaResearcher

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