Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Captain C. P. Baker, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, who, having been wounded in Salonika in August 1916, was posted missing, believed killed in the same theatre of war in May 1917 - he was posthumously mentioned in despatches

1914-15 Star (Lieut., Oxf. & Bucks L.I.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt.), extremely fine

Three: Lieutenant D. S. Baker, Royal Engineers, who died of wounds in France in July 1916

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.), extremely fine

Pair: Corporal G. F. Baker, Royal Engineers

British War and Victory Medals (182686 Cpl., R.E.), together with related identity bracelet inscribed ‘G. F. Baker, M.C.S., 182686, C.E.’, extremely fine (9) £800-1000

The Baker brothers were the sons of Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Baker of Ivydene, Bexley, Kent.

Cyril Percival Baker was born in January 1889 and was educated at Wellington College. On applying for a commission in the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in August 1914, he stated that he had served for 21 months in the 1st V.B. Berkshires and for six months in the 1st Punjab Volunteers in 1910. Subsequently commissioned into the 7th Battalion, he served briefly in France before being embarked for Salonika in November 1915, where he was slightly wounded on 19 August 1916, but remained in the Field. Advanced to Acting Captain in February 1917, he was posted missing believed killed after an attack launched on 8-9 May of the same year, his C.O. reporting that he had been ‘hit very badly by a shell, and from statements of men who were with him, it was thought that it was not possible for him to live’. One of those statements was submitted by Private William Bird:

‘Lieutenant Baker was my Platoon Commander and was wounded by a trench mortar just as we got to Petit Couronne. He was dragged back to a shell hole by one of the men and left there. Lieutenant Baker told the man to go up into the line; that he was needed more there than in messing about with him. The advance started at 10 o’clock and he was hit about half an hour later. There was a very heavy barrage of fire and in my opinion another shell may have come over and blown the Lieutenant up. He was a very nice gentleman. This was in the attack of May 9th.’

Baker, who was posthumously mentioned in despatches for services in the Salonika Field Force (London Gazette 27 November 1917), has no known grave and is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.

Douglas Stanley Baker was born in June 1890 and was educated at Rugby and the University of London, at which latter establishment he served as a Cadet C.S.M. in the Engineer unit of the O.T.C. and was strongly recommended for a commission by his C.O. In the following year he attended McGill University, Montreal, and carried out survey work for the Canadian Pacific Railways, but was employed by Vickers Ltd. back in the U.K. on the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914, when he applied for a commission in the Royal Engineers. Duly appointed to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, he went out to France with the 87th Field Company, R.E., where he died of wounds at No. 3 Casualty Clearing Station on 23 July 1916. He had earlier been advanced to Lieutenant and is interred in the Puchevillers Military Cemetery.

George F. Baker embarked for service in France after 1 January 1916.