Herons Creek Heritage is working tirelessly to unearth new information about the history of our district. With the aid of community members sharing what they know with us, we are able to in turn share these discoveries. The following tells about a number of WWI soldiers with connections to Herons Creek, including Ernest Leslie Baker (title photo) who was awarded the Military Medal. Please click read more. (2272) Ernest Leslie Baker born Millfield near Cessnock 19.9.1891son of Ernest Edgar Baker of Herons Creek and Margaret Baker nee Conway. Occupation: LabourerEnlisted 22.11.1915. Units: 30th Bn 4th Rein. , also 5th Mach. Gunners. Embarked from Sydney on “Orsova” 11.1.1916 17.7.1916 Wounded by gunshot in “head, arm, and leg, severe”. Returned to unit by 14.1.1917. Recommended for Military Medal on 2.10.1917 awarded on 31.10.1917: 'East of YPRES this Company was in the support position, scattered about in POLYGON WOOD on the mornings of 29th and 30th September. This position was subjected to very heavy hostile shelling which was directed by enemy air-craft flying very low. Several men were killed and wounded and Private Baker as Stretcher-bearer showed exceptional courage and disregard for his own personal safety in moving about under very heavy shell fire dressing the wounded and assisting to carry them back to the Aid Post. The position was a very scattered one and Private Baker showed no hesitation in moving about during the heavy shelling and where cover was absolutely unobtainable. On the morning of 30th, the enemy put down a trial barrage for about 15 minutes causing a number of casualties. One man of the Company was seriously wounded; Private Baker realised that immediate action was necessary and with the assistance of another man carried the wounded man back to the Aid Post through a very heavy barrage. I consider his courage and devotion to duty worthy of special recognition.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 31 Date: 7 March 1918 Hospitalized with hernia 3-8.10.1917 Arrived in Au 1.7.1919 Passed away 7.5.1971 Brisbane (Mt. Thompson Crematorium) In addition (Bill’s notes) Margaret’s father Thomas Conway was a soldier in the 58th Reg. (Rutlandshire) arriving in Sydney in 1844. Many of his grandsons fought in WWI.(2401) Leslie Thomas Conway grandson of Thomas son of Patrick; related to Baker born 1895 Occupation: Labourer Unit: 52nd Bn later 47th Bn Enlisted 24.3.1916 RTA 10.9.1917 Handwritten letter 1917 I told Mother how I was wonded. I seen as much War as I wish to see. I had close on four months in France. I was in a big battle on the Sommer Front, it only lasted (illegible) hours for our lot. It was a pretty rough go I tell you. It was snowin all the time and that made it worse, up to your knee in sloppie mud all the time. BullieCourt was the name of the place whear the fight took place, you may have seen report in the papers, and then we came out and had what they call a spell till the 7th of June when we hop over the top at Messissine that is up on the Belgian Front north of France and that was whear I ended my fiten. I reckon I got lucky, (illegible). I have done my best, and got out of it well, and now I don’t cair. Hevery-think must be looking good at home, my gray mair fat and so is Poney. I don’t think I ever seen mair as fat as she looks in the picture. (157) Pvt. Arthur Lester Smale (born 1892) son of A.L. Smale and Agnes Conway (born 1871) from Dinton Vale via Inverell unit: 1st Light Horse Reg. A Sq. Rank on return: Sgt. His brother also served, (21864) Alfred George Smale, born 1896. (no photo as yet)occupation: farrier, shoesmith unit: Engineering, later 5th Mach. gunnersenlistment date: 9.10.1917