A Great War O.B.E. group of four awarded to Engineer Lieutenant-Commander F. J. Baker, Royal Navy, one of only six naval recipients of the Q.S.A. with clasp ‘Rhodesia’


The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type, breast badge, reverse hallmarked London 1917; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Rhodesia (Art: Eng. F. G. Baker, R.N. H.M.S. Partridge) note second initial; British War Medal 1914-20 (Eng. Lt. Cr. F. J. Baker. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., V.R., narrow suspension (F. J. Baker, E.R.A. 2nd Cl., H.M.S. Anson) impressed naming, mounted court-style as worn, good very fine (4) £1,600-£2,000a

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Naval Medals from the Collection of the Late Jason Pilalas.

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Collection

Alan Hall Collection, June 2000.

Only 6 Q.S.A. medals with clasp 'Rhodesia' awarded to the Royal Navy; all were awarded to Officers or Warrant Officers.

O.B.E. (Military) London Gazette 16 September 1919: 'For valuable services at H.M. Dockyard, Sheerness'.

Frederick John Baker was born on 25 November 1862, at Rochester, Kent. Prior to joining the Royal Navy at Pembroke on 7 January 1884 he was employed as a turner and fitter. Not surprisingly he elected to join the Engineering Branch of the Royal Navy and became an Acting Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Official No. 126,083. On leaving Pembroke having completed his basic training on 8 May 1884, he joined the receiving ship Victor Emannuel in Hong Kong. From this vessel he later joined the despatch vessel Vigilant on 24 June 1884. He was transferred to the gunboat Midge on 4 July 1884, and whilst in this ship he was advanced to Engine-Room Artificer 3rd Class on 7 January 1887. He returned to England in February 1889 and rejoined Pembroke. His next seagoing post was to the battleship Rodney which he joined on 14 May 1891.

He was advanced to Engine-Room Artificer 2nd Class on 2 February 1891 and awarded his second Good Conduct Badge on 3 February 1892. He paid off from Rodney on 27 May 1892, and rejoined Pembroke. He remained on shore until 12 September 1893 when he joined the battleship Anson. During the three years he served in this ship he was advanced to Chief Engine-Room Artificer on 13 November 1894. He was awarded his Long Service & Good Conduct medal under the ten year rule on 19 September 1894. He returned to Pembroke II in November 1896 and passed his examination for Artificer Engineer (Warrant Officer rank) on 27 January 1898, and was promoted to the rank with seniority of 1 April 1898.

As a Warrant Officer he was appointed in May 1899 to the gunboat Partridge, serving on the Cape of Good Hope and West Coast of Africa Station. The Queen's South Africa Medal Roll shows that 3 Lieutenants, 1 Surgeon and 2 Warrant Officers landed at Beira on the instruction of their Commanding Officer and as a result were later able to claim the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasp 'Rhodesia'.

On leaving Partridge he was next appointed to the torpedo boat destroyer Hardy, which he joined on 29 September 1902. On promotion to Chief Artificer Engineer on 1 April 1903 he joined in April 1904 the cruiser Lancaster, serving on the Mediterranean Station. Whilst in this ship he was promoted to Engineer Lieutenant on April 1905. His next appointment on 17 June 1905, was to President where he was Assistant to the resident Naval Engineer Overseer Midland District. After three years in this post he was next appointed in October 1908 to the Zulu, torpedo boat destroyer building at Hawthom Leslie & Co., Newcastle upon Tyne.

In May 1909 he joined Orion, coast defence and depot ship for torpedo boat destroyers, Malta. In this post he was responsible for training Malta reserve stokers and for supervision of boats etc. He subsequently served aboard the battleship Ocean, Third Fleet at the Nore which he joined in March 1911, followed by Wildfire October 1911 for service with the Commander of the Sheerness Dockyard. On 28 April 1916 he was promoted to Engineer Lieutenant-Commander and remained in this post for the duration of World War I. He was placed on the Retired List in January 1920, and died circa 1942-43.

Sold with copied record of service and medal roll confirmation.