FOOTBALLERS AND THE WAR (excerpt)
Another Pirates footballer who is numbered with the honoured dead is Norman Baxter, who is reported killed in action at the Dardanelles. He played in the Second Grade team last season as first five eighth, and was a most promising player, besides being deservedly popular. -Otago Witness, 1/9/1915.
Mr R. G. Baxter, of Maori Hill, has received word that his son, Lance-corporal Norman Baxter, who was first reported dead — “cause unknown,” was killed in action at the Dardanelles on August 6 or 7. Lance-corporal Baxter was in the service of the National Mortgage and Agency Company before he left on service, and was wellknown in local athletic circles. He was a member of the Pirates football Club, of the Cosy Dell Tennis Club, and the Carisbrook Cricket Club, and had an interest with several others in a yacht at Broad Bay. On the outbreak of war he was one of the earliest to enlist, and was one of the six mounted men who went into the first camp at Forbury. He left with the main body in the Fifth (Otago) Mounted Rifles, and was one of General Godley’s body guard. Lance-corporal Baxter had been between three and four months in the trenches at the Dardanelles when, he met his death. -Otago Witness, 8/9/1915.
BAUCHOP'S RIDGE.
STORY OF ITS CAPTURE.
HOW OTAGO OFFICERS DIED.
(special to "the press.") DUNEDIN, September 30.
The attached are extracts from a letter received yesterday by Mr D. G. Mitchell, of the Telegraph Department, from his brother, Lieutenant R. F. Mitchell, giving a few details of how Lieutenant-Colonel Bauchop, Captain Bruce Hay, Sergeant Jack Fea, and, Lance-Corporal Norman Baxter gave their lives for the Empire. The above deceased soldiers all belonged to the Otago Mounted Regiment, and are well known in Dunedin.
I arrived here last night (Heliopolis Palace Hotel, August 14th). I had two cuts on my hand, probably due to shrapnel, and they turned septic, I had eleven weeks on the Peninsula, and the heat was awful, so I can tell you the change is the thing I wanted, it is almost too sad for me to write to you, but really, one can get used to almost anything. The sights seen here beggar description. Our little squadron got it hot and strong on Friday. At 9.30 p.m. (August 6th) we moved out to take a position on Bauchop's Ridge, which was about 1200 or 1400 yards away. We had to take it with the bayonet, not a shot to be fired, and well and nobly our men did it, but at what a cost! I think there were only nine left in my section. Our poor old Captain, Bruce Hay died like a soldier. He was dictating orders to me to send the General when he suddenly said: "Oh!" and putting his hand to his heart, went right down. I asked him if he was badly hit, but he just turned and looked at me, and said "Good-bye!" He only lived a short time. Two hours previous to the charge he said to me: "By this time tomorrow morning. 'Mitch,' we will have earned the right to wear the King's uniform. I've soldiered twenty years for this." He earned the right, if ever a man did.
Poor Norman Baxter! He was a good boy. He died of his wounds. He was one of the favourites of the squadron, loved by all. -Press, 1/10/1915.
A different excerpt, from the Greymouth Evening Star, has a little more detail.
"Poor Norman Baxter, he was a good boy. He died of his wounds, a you can tell his parents that he was one of the bravest and died as a true British soldier, well in the front and fighting like six men. He was one of the favourites in the squadron, loved by all. He was a great worker and of a very kindly nature. They must not grieve for him, but must be proud to have had such a son. He had not passed away when 1 saw him, but I believe he died shortly afterwards.
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