Charles Baker
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Baker (a carpenter by trade) and Phoebe Edwards married in 1885, at Walsall. By 1901 they were living at 92 Mill Street, Walsall with a family of five, Ethel born 1888, Florence 1889, Benjamin 1891, Emma Jane 1894 and Charles in 1899. By 1911 the family had moved back to Rushall, resident at Daw End Lane. During the next few years, for reasons unknown, they became resident at The Cottage, Norbreck Hydro, Norbreck, Blackpool.
Charles was living at Blackpool when he was called up and joined the 71st Training Reserve Battalion of the Notts and Derbys (T R number 34908) on 30th May 1917 at just over 18 years old. On the 27 November 1917 he was posted to the 5th Manchester Regiment C Coy, regimental number 60184 and on the 30th March 1918 he was drafted to France with the B.E.F. going from Folkstone to Boulogne. The 4th April saw him transferred back to the Sherwood Foresters serving with the 1st Battalion and re-numbered 109108. His Battalion was involved in the the Battle of Aisne which began on the morning of 27 May 1918. The Germans began a bombardment of the Allied front lines with over 4,000 artillery pieces causing heavy losses of the British. It was on this day that Charles was reported missing and as his body was never recovered it was deemed to be his date of death. He is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France. The Soissons Memorial commemorates almost 4,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom forces who died during the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne in 1918 and who have no known grave.
CWGC additional information - Son of W and Phoebe Baker, of The Cottage, Norbreck Hydro, Norbreck, Blackpool
No Photos