The tangled hills and the constant changes in the reported locations of friendly and enemy troops caused many changes in the plan, some of them after it began. Some lifts had to be repeated to allow the infantry to catch up. The barrage on the right—the last one—started too far forward, probably because the enemy followed up a preliminary withdrawal of the New Zealand infantry, and 21 Battalion at the outset had to overcome enemy almost untouched by the mighty artillery preparation. In the centre 22 Battalion reported at 1.30 a.m. that one gun was firing 400 yards short. It was on the part of the front covered by 28 Battery and each gun of that battery was therefore checked and all details of its programme rechecked. All were found correct. Then a shell landed in the pit of A3 of 27 Battery, putting the gun out of action, killing Gunner Baker, and seriously wounding two other gunners. There was a suggestion that this was a 25-pounder shell fired short, and 47 Battery checked all its guns in relation to this and the earlier incident. As with 28 Battery, all were proved correct, though 47 Battery added 200 yards to the remaining lifts for safety's sake. -Official History of the 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery.
Gnr. R. J. Baker Gunner Richard John Baker, who was killed in action on August 2, 1944, was born at Riccarton, Christchurch, on September 9, 1908, and was the second son of Mrs Baker and the late Mr J. Baker, of Timaru. He was educated at the Timaru Main School, and on leaving school worked for his father, who was a well-known carrier in the town for many years. On the death of his father he carried on the business on his own account until the time of entering camp. Gunner Baker, who was of a retiring nature, was held in high esteem by all who knew him. His brother. Raymond, was killed in Egypt in January, 1942. Gunner Baker leaves a widow and two children. -Timaru Herald, 31/8/1944.
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