BAIGENT, Albert

Albert Baigent was 27 years old, single and a bricklayer when he enlisted at Bendigo on 26 November 1916. He was attached to the 37th Battalion, 6 Reinforcements, who were despatched almost immediately to England on the 'Medic', leaving on 16 December. They disembarked at Plymouth on 18 February, 1917, and marched out to Sutton Mandeville and then to No. 12 Camp, Durrington. Here they did their training and on 3 July 1917, proceeded to France.

Albert Baigent already had an offence in his file: he had been AWL from midnight on 8 June until 4 pm on 11 June. For this he did three days punishment and forfeited 5 days pay.

On 10 August, 1917, he was in France, marching out to join his unit and was taken on strength on 17 August. They were in Belgium, having just fought the battle of Messines, south of Ypres, in June. On  4 October, the 37th was involved in the Battle of Broodseinde, a massive attack on the German lines. The Australians began with a bombardment, but the Germans also shelled the Australians front lines, leading to one-seventh becoming casualties bfore the real attack had become. As the Australian troops advanced, they met rows of German troops moving towards them - the German command had organised an attack on the same day and time. The Australians won their way through, at the cost of 6,500 casualties. The 37th next battle was Passchendaele, also part of the Ypres offensive. The attack was launched on 31 July, 1917 and went on until November 1917, with the goal of driving the German army back to the Belgian Coast. Albert Baigent survived both of these major battles and was given three weeks leave in England in 4 March, 1918, rejoining his battalion on 4 April.

On 5 May, he was struck down with influenza and transported to the 7th Can. General Hospital by ambulance. Fifteen days later, it was bombed. Albert Baigent was unlucky: he received a fractured skull and a severe wound to the foot. He was evacuated to England, invalided out with influenza and wounds, and admitted to the Southern General Hospital. He was not discharged until 14 September, at which stage he was sent to No. 2 Can. Depot at Weymouth. However, on 24 August, he had a recurrence of a rash, identified as syphilis, and placed on the register at Bulford. He ahd had the first attack some four to six years earlier. 

On 10 December, 1918, he was returned to Australia on the 'Somali' but remained on strength with the AIF. An Albert Henry Baigent, a butcher, is listed along with his wife Phyllis Edith Baigent living in Coogee, then Hurstville, NSW, on the electoral rolls from 1930-1943. It is impossible to tell if this is the same Albert Baigent, because no second name is listed on his army documents.