Military History

Embarked Fremantle per HMAT ‘Surada’ A52 for England 16.9.1916.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 28th Battalion, 15th Reinforcement.
Baggs disembarked with his Battalion at Plymouth 20.11.1916. He proceeded overseas to France per ‘Princess Clementine’ from Folkestone 21.12.1916. The 28th Battalion fought at the Battle of Bullecourt from May 1917. Baggs was wounded in action with shrapnel injuries in the chest 3.5.1917. He embarked per Hospital Ship ‘Panama’ for UK and was admitted to 1st Southern General Hospital, Edgbaston with severe wounds to chest 20.5.1917. Baggs had been struck on sternum with shrapnel and developed an abscess. He was discharged from hospital and proceeded overseas to France from Codford 20.10.1917. He rejoined his Unit 29.10.1918. The 28th Battalion fought in the 100 Days Offensive around Villers-Bretonneux from August 1918. Baggs was wounded a second time in France with a gunshot wound under his jaw 31.8.1918. He was admitted to No 2 General Hospital, Rouen. He was then transferred to Base Depot 20.10.1918 (Reported West Australian Newspaper 31.10.1918). He rejoined his Unit on 28.10.1918. Baggs marched out to Sutton Veny and then for return for England, Quota 55.
Embarked per HMAT ‘City of Exeter’ for Australia 12.7.1919.
Returned/Disembarked at Fremantle 16.8.1919.
Discharged 3.10.1919.
Final Rank Private, 28th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force.
Medical Condition NK (wounded in action 1917)
Awards and Medals British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Baggs was involved in an unfortunate incident as a youth when a gun discharged killing one child and injuring another. He was not charged (Sunday Times 28.11.1909 p7, Swan Express 3.12.1909 p4)
Photos HMAT 'Surada'. Photographer unknown. SLNSW image a639566
             Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM H12360
             Ruins of Chateau near Villers-Bretonneux 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced AWM E02983

Information Source
AWM H12360. Bullecourt, France 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E02983. Ruins of Chateau near Villers-Bretonneux 1918. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- John Albert Baggs
Guildford Primary School Honour Roll
NAA: B2455, Baggs J A
SLNSW image a639566. HMAT 'Surada'. Photographer unknown. image sourced from the State Library of New South Wales Pictorial Collection
Sunday Times
Swan Express
West Australian Newspaper

Amherst Road, West Midland, WA. (Mother)

 

Associated Images