Name
George Albert Edward Baker
27 November 1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/12/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
130686
Royal Engineers
No.1 Special Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WINDMILL BRITISH CEMETERY, MONCHY-LE-PREUX
I. G. 21
France
Headstone Inscription
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Boxmoor (*1), Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial, John Dickinson & Co Ltd Memorial, Home Mill Park, Kings Langley, Watford Post Office Memorial (*2), Not listed on the Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
George Albert Edward Baker was born on 27 November 1880 in Reigate, Surrey, and baptised 30 January 1881 at St Mary’s, Reigate. He was the son and first child of George and Mary Jane Baker (nee BRUNKER), and baptised at St Mary, Reigate on 30 January 1881. His parents married 29 January 1878 at St Mary’s, Reigate, Surrey.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at The Admiral Public House, Nutley Lane, Reigate, Surrey where his father was the licensed victualler. They had moved to Watford by 1891 when his father was working as a carpenter.
He married Florence Alice Birchmore (nee BIRCHMORE) BAKER of Boxmoor, Herts., on 16 April 1900 at St John the Evangelist, Boxmoor and on the 1901 Census they were living in 14 Albert Street, Watford with their son George Sidney Arnold, who was 3 months old and George was working as a Painter (House) and Gasfitter. In 1903 they had a daughter, Florence Violet Priscilla and by the 1911 Census, they had moved to 17 Merton Road, Watford, and George was working as a Gas Fitter.
At some point in the following years George moved to Hemel Hempstead with his family and started work at Home Park Mills, for John Dickinson& Co. Ltd. They lived at 63 Horsecroft Road, in Boxmoor. (N.B. After George's death Florence remained in the house until her death in 1961 at the age of 88.).
Recorded as born in Reigate, Surrey and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
George enlisted in Hertford in October 1914, having sought permission from his employer as they were concerned to retain enough skilled men in order to contribute to the war effort producing trench mortars. He joined the Hertfordshire Regiment (reg. no. 2845) and was posted to the 2nd Battalion in Hertford for basic training.
As George was a gas fitter, he was singled out to train with the Royal Engineers in one of the Special Companies in order to develop a response to the use of Chlorine gas by the Germans. He was sent overseas in early 1916 and was posted to the 5th (Mortar) Battalion, No. 1 Special Company, Royal Engineers, which specialised in handling and firing shells from 4 inch Stokes Mortars. He saw action throughout 1916 and 1917 and was promoted to Sergeant by November 1917 when he took part in the Battle of Cambrai which continued into December. This was a particularly costly battle on both sides with more than 44,000 allied troops and more than 45,000 Germans killed, wounded or missing.
George was one of those wounded during this action and he was taken to the No. 10 Field Ambulance where he died of his wounds on 1 December 1917, aged 37. He is buried at Windmill Hill Cemetery. France.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
*1 There are 2 George Bakers who could be the man listed on the memorial. Currently we have chosen George and not this man, George Albert Edward, simply because the Church memorial generally includes middle names and the former man does not appear to have any. *2 He appears under the Northwood section of the Watford Post Office memorial. His widow, Mrs F A Baker, 63 Horsecroft, Boxmoor, ordered his headstone inscription: “GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN”. His widow, Mrs F A Baker, 63 Horsecroft, Boxmoor, ordered his headstone inscription: “GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN”. His widow received a war gratuity of £17 10s and pay owing of £10 17s 11d. She also received a pension of £1 2s 11d a week for herself and her daughter Florence.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.hemelheroes.com, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
