L/Cpl
John Gilbert Baker
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 18/10/1893 |
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Place of birth: Battersea, Surrey, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Clerk |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: R/18001 |
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Enlistment place: Fulham, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — King's Royal Rifle Corps, 12th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 23/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Eagle House - Winterstellung, Langemark, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 23 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 116 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Lance corporal John Gilbert Baker, a 24-year-old clerk from Fulham, Middlesex, was killed in action on 23 September 1917. John served in the 12th Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps (60th Brigade, 20th (Light) Division.
On the 20th of September 1917 the 20th Division attacked from the ruins of Langemark, but was held up by Eagle Trench. At the end of the day parts of the trench had been captured, while other parts were still in German hands. This made it difficult to assist a renewal of the attack by artillery. It was therefore decided to renew the attack on the 23rd with the help of some tanks. The promised tanks never showed up, because they had all been bogged down. The plan was renewed and following a bombardment with mortars, the 12th Battalion would make a bombing attack from the south. In the meanwhile the 10th Rifle Brigade would attack Eagle Trench from the west.
At 6.25 a.m. the Germans launched an unsuccessful counter-attack from Eagle Trench and attacked posts of the 12th Battalion, near Louis Farm. At 7 a.m. the mortar bombardment started. Three minutes later a small party of the 12th Battalion advanced under a barrage of rifle grenades. 40 men of the 6th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry acted as moppers-up. While the Germans were engaged, a party of the 10th Rifle Brigade rushed the trench. The attack was a success. About 100 prisoners and a couple of machineguns were captured.
The 12th Battalion was relieved at night under great difficulty owing to fog and heavy shelling. And relief was not completed till daybreak. Casualties during the operations were one officer killed, five other ranks killed and 69 men were wounded. John, 24, was killed in action on the 23rd of September 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
On the 20th of September 1917 the 20th Division attacked from the ruins of Langemark, but was held up by Eagle Trench. At the end of the day parts of the trench had been captured, while other parts were still in German hands. This made it difficult to assist a renewal of the attack by artillery. It was therefore decided to renew the attack on the 23rd with the help of some tanks. The promised tanks never showed up, because they had all been bogged down. The plan was renewed and following a bombardment with mortars, the 12th Battalion would make a bombing attack from the south. In the meanwhile the 10th Rifle Brigade would attack Eagle Trench from the west.
At 6.25 a.m. the Germans launched an unsuccessful counter-attack from Eagle Trench and attacked posts of the 12th Battalion, near Louis Farm. At 7 a.m. the mortar bombardment started. Three minutes later a small party of the 12th Battalion advanced under a barrage of rifle grenades. 40 men of the 6th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry acted as moppers-up. While the Germans were engaged, a party of the 10th Rifle Brigade rushed the trench. The attack was a success. About 100 prisoners and a couple of machineguns were captured.
The 12th Battalion was relieved at night under great difficulty owing to fog and heavy shelling. And relief was not completed till daybreak. Casualties during the operations were one officer killed, five other ranks killed and 69 men were wounded. John, 24, was killed in action on the 23rd of September 1917. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Sources 4
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Ancestry http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Further reference |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/846844/baker,-john-gilbert/ Sources used |
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The long long trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diaries http://www.nmarchive.com Further reference |