Rylstone Autograph Quilt: Arthur Edward BAKER

Quilt

Quilt Description:

White linen, commercially produced single bed sheet, that has been subsequently autographed and embroided to make a quilt or coverlet. All embroidery is in two gauges of white cotton embroidery thread. Unless otherwise stated the embroidery is in stemstitch, with a small amount of chainstitch. All the autographs would have originally have been written in pencil before being over-embroidered. The top edge of the quilt has a 6cm deep hem edged with drawn threadwork. Beneath it, in satinstitch, is a decorative scroll of grapes, vine leaves and tendrils. The hem and scroll were part of the original bed sheet. Beneath this is hand stemstiched lettering 'Rylstone Autograph Quilt'. The main body of the quilt is covered with numerous embroidered autographs bordered by a wide variety of embroidered shapes. The shapes include stars, flowers, circles, and five large multi-facetted circular shapes. The central circular shape bears the cypher of King George V and 'FOR OUR DARDANELLES AUSTRALIAN WOUNDED 1915'. Two of the other circles bear the names 'A.C. ROBBINS A.H.FREEMAN' and 'J.D. SANDSTROM' (Robbins and Freeman were Rylstone district Gallipoli casualties). The other two circles bear the names of well known Australian commanding officers killed on Gallipoli, 'Genl Bridges' and 'Cols MacLaurin Braund [and] Onslow Thompson'. The names of 49 soldiers with a Rylstone district connection have been written by the same hand around some of the circles and then embroidered over.

Summary

Autograph 'quilts' were a common method of fund raising in Australia during the First World War, especially in country areas. The idea behind them was that an individual would sign the quilt in pencil and then pay to have the signature embroidered over. In this way funds were raised for the war effort, The Rylstone quilt is unusual in that the signatures and decorative embroidery are in white on a white ground. The majority of quilts were embroidered with red thread on a white ground.

There are over 900 names embroidered on the quilt. They include names of soldiers from the Rylstone district and the signatures of civilians from the Rylstone in New South Wales. As far as can be ascertained , 49 soldiers from the district are listed on the quilt. Work continues to identify the servicemen. All those identified enllisted between August 1914 to July 1915, implying that the quilt was completed by mid-1915.

Source: http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/REL28488/

The quilt is now held by the Australian War Memorial.

Friday, 23 May 2014

Arthur Edward BAKER

A Baker

Photo: Dan Hatton

Served in WW1

Glen Alice (labourer, 1913 Electoral Roll)

Source: Dan Hatton

Arthur Edward BAKER was the 4th Child of George & Elizabeth BAKER (née Wessell)
Date of birth: 11 Mar 1889
Date of death: 13 Dec 1917. killed in action
Ref: Gwen Potter

Source: Wal Pilz

THE BAKER FAMILY

    The Baker family, well known in the district for many years, had an original area of over 1,000 acres situated to the north of the village of Glen Alice.

    One of the family still lives in the Valley. He resides at the cottage which is used as the Glen Alice post office and telephone exchange.

    Despite Mr. Baker’s eighty-four years, (d. 8 Mar 1979) he is a mine of information and clearly recalls personalities and incidents relating to the settlers who lived there when he was a child.
Ref: Tour of Rylstone - Capertee Valley - compiled by Scurrah & Pal -1969

Source: Wal Pilz

No.2374 - Private Arthur Edward Baker - Death: 27.9.1917 Ypres, Belgium - from Glen Alice/Rylstone - Note: Menin Gate Memorial - 53rd Battalion.
Ref: RDHS Wiki

Source: Wal Pilz

2 comments:

Gwen Potter24 May 2014 at 12:40
Arthur Edward Baker was the 4th Child of George & Elizabeth Baker (nee Wessell). Born 11/3/1889 and was killed in Action 13/12/1917.

The Mr William Baker referred to above in the notes on Baker family Glen Alice compiled by Scurrah & Pal - 1969, died on 8/3/1979 and is buried in Glen Alice Cememtery.
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