In Memory of Private DAVID SHAW BAILLIE 12/500, 15th (North Auckland) Coy., Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. who died age 21 on 03 May 1915 Son of John Rankin Baillie and Agnes Baillie(formerly Shaw), of Argyle St., Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. His twin brother John Rankin Baillie also fell. Remembered with honour LONE PINE MEMORIAL In Memory of Private JOHN RANKIN BAILLIE 12/1545, 1st Bn., Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F. who died age 22 on 03 July 1916 Son of John Rankin Baillie and Agnes Baillie, (formerly Shaw) of Argyle Street, Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand. His twin brother David Shaw Baillie also fell. Remembered with honour CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES BAILLIE, Private, DAVID SHAW, 12/500. 15th (North Auckland) Coy. Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.. Died of wounds, on H.M.H.S. "Devanha," 3rd May 1915. Age 21. Son of Agnes Clarke (formerly Baillie), of Argyle St., Avondale, Auckland, and the late John Rankin Baillie. 72. Private David Shaw BAILLIE, Auckland Battalion NZEF. Died of wounds at sea 03/05/1915, aged 21. A soldier who briefly served as a medicial orderly on the Devanha in April/May 1915 - ( landed at ANZAC Cove on 25 April as a stretcher bearer but was later ordered to return to the Devanha with the wounded ) - he penned a detailed diary of his war service from 31 January 1915 to 23 January, 1916, including his arrival "in the land of the Pharohs",as a stretcher bearer with 12 Batt landing at ANZAC Cove-"still alive and kicking",assistant in operating theatre/medicial orderly aboard the HMT Devanha "awful work but somebody must do it" This is his entry for 3rd May, 1915 - I believe that two of the other four soldiers buried with Lt Curwen-Walker were Lieutenant Kenneth Ailabie Longuet-Higgins, Deal Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Age 18 and Private David Shaw 15 (North Auckland)Coy, Auckland Regiment, N.Z.E.F.Age21. Private JOHN RANKIN BAILLIE Killed in Action. Possible service Gallipoli.
I am directly related to David Shaw Baillie - he was my grandmother's brother and as you posted about him quoting his war diary I am intrigued to know more. In New Zealand next Feb there will be a memorial plaque for him and his twin brother John Rankin Baillie who died in France 1916. I would appreciate talking with you here about anything you can help me with about David. To my knowledge no one in our family has ever heard of or read a diary David wrote. Can you give me the source please and is there anything more written that you may know of. Many thanks Diane
Very interesting post. I think that horrors of war aren't covered enough by our news media today. The coverage is way too sensationalized and simplistic. We often forget that there are actual people effected by all the death and destruction caused by war. I'm sure this simple story is just one of countless others that are pretty similar in nature. These are the forgotten people of war that we must always struggle to remember.
