WALLACE BADDON.

RANK: Captain.

REGIMENT: 147th Company Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)

BORN: Leeds.

ENLISTED: Toowoomba Queensland Australia.

GAVE HIS LIFE: 03/09/1916.

AGED: 21.

CEMETERY: Thiepval Memorial Somme France.

PANEL :

LEEDS MODERN: 1905-1909.

Wallace was born in Leeds the son of George Born Scotland 1846 and Catherine Born Scotland 1851.

On leaving Leeds Modern he worked for the Leeds Education Committee, during this time Wallace served in the Field Artillery of the 1st Battalion West Riding Brigade, Wallace was discharged when leaving England for a new life in Australia where he worked as a station bookeeper.

On the 19th August 1914 in Toowoomba Queensland aged 23 years and 10 months Wallace enlisted into "B" Company of the 2nd Australian Light Horse Infantry as a Private gaining the service number 298.

At his medical Wallace is described as being 5ft 9 inches weighing 10 stone 7 lbs with a chest size of 35-37 half inches. He had a fair complexion blue eyes, fair hair and a scar on his right palm.

After training and moving to Alexandria Egypt Wallace was sent to Gallipoli Turkey on the 05/05/1915, and exactly one month later he was shot at Anzac Cove, he was then sent home to England where he was diagnosed with appendacitas.

Whilst in Hospital in Wandsworth London, Wallace was granted a commision into the 13 Bn Highland Light Infantry. On the 04/11/1915 he was ordered to attend the school of instruction in Sterling Scotland with bed linen and blankets!.

Wallace was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and promoted to the rank of Captain.

Wallace lies where he fell to this day and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

one of his men wrote:

"He was a soldier and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and we all realise what a sterling officer we have lost"

In 1920 Wallaces father George who was living at" Reginald Parade 139 Chapletown Road Leeds" was contacted by the Austaralian Imperial Forces to pass on a kit Wallace had used during his time in the Australian 2nd Light Horse and also to inform him that becauce he had served with the Australians between 19/08/1914 and 10/11/1915 he was entitled to the 1914-1915 Star,the British Medal and the Victory Medal to be issued by the Australian Government.

Thank You to the Australian National Archives for their time in digitising Wallaces service record.