Golf Professional
Sergeant Richard Baxter 65054 served with the 24th Battalion (Victoria Rifles) out of Montreal. Born in Melrose, Scotland on 23 January 1895. At his enlistment, Richard noted his trade as a golf professional.
Victoria Rifles
The 24th Battalion organized in October 1914 under the Command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Gunn. Mobilized at Montreal and recruited in Montreal.
Private Richard Baxter enlisted with the 24th Battalion on 2 December 1914. He was 19 years old, standing 5′ 6″ tall, dark complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He still had some growing to do, for upon discharge his height noted as 5′ 8″ tall.
Baxter and the 24th Battalion embarked from Montreal on 11 May 1915 aboard SS CAMERONIA.
England
Disembarked England 20 May 1915, with a strength of 42 officers, 1089 other ranks. The summer of 1915 spent in training, but Richard bided his time in hospital. Private Richard Baxter admitted on 30 June 1915 (VDG), and later discharged on 26 August 1915.
The battalion inspected by H M the King on 2 September 1915 at East Sandling. Two weeks later, they set sail for France aboard SS QUEEN.
France
The 24th Battalion arrived in France 15 September 1915 with the 2nd Canadian Division, 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 23rd Canadian Reserve Battalion. The machine gun section went into trenches near Hazebrouck on 20 September 1915.
First Wound Stripe
Private Richard Baxter suffered a GSW right knee on 17 March 1916. While Standing To, the enemy put over several salvos of 7.7cm.
One killed, 7 wounded. Later, Pte Arthur Gagnon 416431, while bringing a wounded man down on the trench railway was hit in the neck buy a bullet. He died a half-hour later at a dressing station.
Gagnon buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Plot X, Row B, Grave 4.
Return to England
Private Richard Baxter evacuated to England 4 April 1916. Finally discharged from hospital (recovered) on 26 July 1916.
Return to France
Private Richard Baxter returned to France on 6 October 1916. Appointed Lance Corporal on 15 October 1916, and finally promoted Corporal on 1 December 1916.
Following the Battle of Vimy Ridge, on 18 April 1917 Baxter promoted Sergeant.
Battle of Hill 70
On night of 17/18th August 1917, the Battalion relieved two companies of the 22nd Battalion, and one from the 25th Battalion. During the tour 4 Officers killed, 4 Officers wounded, 37 Other Ranks killed, and 234 Other Ranks wounded, 36 Missing. One of the wounded, Sergeant Richard Baxter.
Second Wound Stripe
GSW jaw, and GSW shoulder, evacuated once again to England on 25 August 1917. A bullet hit his shoulder, tore into his neck and exited out of the right side of his jaw, taking a few teeth with it.
Return to Canada
Sergeant Richard Baxter discharged from hospital, No 5 CGH, Liverpool, on return to Canada, 4 January 1918.
Entitled to wear two casualty stripes. Address on discharge 2632 Waverly Street (Pavillion La Fontaine), Montreal, Quebec.
At the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, he still had pains in joints. Two months convalescence recommended, 20 May 1918.
Following convalescence, Richard moved to 39 Cartier Ave in Pointe-Claire, Quebec with his mother. The dwelling is an antiquities’ store today.
Post War
Discharged honorably in 1918, 2 months before the end of the Great War, Richard went on to pursue his love of golf and help with remodeling of the Taconic golf club in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
In 1924, Richard hired as the Club Professional and greenskeeper. Mr Baxter supervised the construction of the 18 hole course that started in August of 1927 and was completed by Labor Day in 1928. It was a par 73 layout.
Probably no single person has had a greater impact on the creation and maintenance of the course’s excellence as the late Mr Baxter.
Only Ace
Several years before Baxter retired (in 1964) he was playing with club members Tommy Danaher, Jim Keith and A. V. Phillips. Writing in his “About the Berkshires” column in the Aug. 30, 1964, Berkshire Eagle, Golf writer Ed Toole reported that Danaher hit his tee-shot on the par 3, 215-yard 17th (in those days it was the ninth) to within two feet of the flag.
Turning to the pro: “Let’s see you beat that, Dr. B.” Baxter’s retorted: “I haven’t let you down yet, Tommy, I’ll see what I can do.” With that he hit his drive to the
green where it landed, bounced over Danaher’s ball and rolled into the cup for Baxter’s first and only ace as a professional.
Keith hit to the green and went on to garner his par 3 while Phillips, shaken up with all the excitement, drove to just off the green and took a bogey 4 before Danaher rolled in his birdie 2. The results for the foursome: an ace, a birdie,
a par and a bogie: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Death of Sergeant Richard Baxter
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