Ballarat man to search for relatives of fallen soldiers

Ballarat man John Ives is travelling to Gallipoli in April for the centenary Anzac Day celebrations and is trying to locate relatives of two men who died on the front line. 

Mr Ives was researching his grandfather Alfred Ives, who went to Gallipoli with the 2nd Field Company Engineers, when he discovered an honour roll detailing two fellow soldiers from the region who served with his grandfather. 

“Reading through these servicemen’s records, I was surprised to find that two of his fellow engineers were from the Ballarat district and they had both died at Gallipoli,” he said. “I thought, if possible, I would try and locate any descendants and offer to visit the memorials to their fallen relatives if they wished me to.”

The fallen men were Harold Evelyn Baxter, who was born at Ingliston, and Robert Felix Bass, of Snake Valley. 

“Harold sailed with my grandfather on the Orvieto on October 21, 1914, and being in the same company, it is highly likely that Harold also landed on April 25,” Mr Ives said. “Harold was killed in action at Anzac Cove on June 3, 1915. His parents were James and Annie Baxter, of Snake Valley.”

Mr Ives said Robert Felix Bass had only transferred to the engineers unit on the morning of August 6, 1915, and was killed that afternoon. “He was killed later that day while preparing tunnels and trenches at Lone Pine in preparation for the later attacks on the Turkish positions,” he said. 

“Robert’s parents were George and Margaret Bass, also from Snake Valley.”

Mr Ives is going to Gallipoli as part of the Conservation Volunteers Visitors Service program and said he would visit several memorials while there. 

He said he could take messages and small items if any relative wanted him to. 

To contact Mr Ives, email john.ives@findex.com.au

patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au