2nd Lt
Albert Parkes Baker
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 16/01/1886 |
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Place of birth: Old Monkland, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 5, Ettrick Road, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Rubber Worker |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Service number: / |
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Units: — Highland Light Infantry, 3rd Bn. attd. Durham Light Infantry, 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 22/08/1917 |
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Place of death: Inverness Copse, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: 46 Row: G Grave: 12 |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Albert Parkes Baker was born on 16 January 1886 in Old Monkland (now Coatbridge), Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of Ada Bennett and Thomas Baker. Before the war, he worked as a rubber worker in Kajang, Federated Malay States (modern-day Malaysia). During the First World War, he joined the British Army and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. In 1916, he married Margaret Muirhead in Edinburgh. A year later, in 1917, he was on the battlefields near Zillebeke to take part in the Battle of Passchendaele with the 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.
On 21 August 1917, the men of the 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, were stationed at Zillebeke Bund, near Zillebeke Pond. On 22 August at 02:00 a.m., the various companies moved towards the front line, advancing from north of Clapham Junction to near Stirling Castle. The route was not without casualties. A gas shell bombardment forced the soldiers to put on their gas masks. Passing through Sanctuary Wood, they faced heavy shelling, causing further losses. By 05:00 a.m., the battalion was in position. One company was to hold the front line as the attack began, a second company would remain in reserve in the Menin Tunnel, and a third company would join the attack to form a defensive right flank.
At 07:00 a.m., the attack began. The first phase progressed without significant issues. The Germans did not launch heavy bombardment, and the first objective was quickly secured. A headquarters was established in Inverness Copse, near Dumbarton Lakes. There, the commanding officer was killed while organizing a section to take out a machine gun. Meanwhile, the leading platoon advanced towards Herenthage Chateau. The platoon suffered heavy losses (only one officer and two soldiers returned) but managed to take 50 prisoners. Around 08:50 a.m., two platoons from the reserve were sent forward to Inverness Copse to reinforce the Somerset Light Infantry and the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Around 10:00 a.m., the headquarters, due to mounting losses, had to withdraw a few meters to a position in Jasper Avenue. At 11:00 a.m., A Company was sent to the western part of Inverness Copse following a request for further reinforcements. In addition, three platoons were sent to the attack’s starting positions to secure them as support. Later, these three platoons were also moved towards Inverness Copse. These positions were held for the rest of the day. Over the next two days, fighting continued for control of Inverness Copse, which ultimately remained largely in British hands.
Albert Parkes Baker was killed on 22 August during these operations near the headquarters in Inverness Copse. The battalion suffered losses of 53 killed, 205 wounded, 57 gas casualties, and 54 missing. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Plot 46, Row G, Grave 12.
On 21 August 1917, the men of the 10th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry, were stationed at Zillebeke Bund, near Zillebeke Pond. On 22 August at 02:00 a.m., the various companies moved towards the front line, advancing from north of Clapham Junction to near Stirling Castle. The route was not without casualties. A gas shell bombardment forced the soldiers to put on their gas masks. Passing through Sanctuary Wood, they faced heavy shelling, causing further losses. By 05:00 a.m., the battalion was in position. One company was to hold the front line as the attack began, a second company would remain in reserve in the Menin Tunnel, and a third company would join the attack to form a defensive right flank.
At 07:00 a.m., the attack began. The first phase progressed without significant issues. The Germans did not launch heavy bombardment, and the first objective was quickly secured. A headquarters was established in Inverness Copse, near Dumbarton Lakes. There, the commanding officer was killed while organizing a section to take out a machine gun. Meanwhile, the leading platoon advanced towards Herenthage Chateau. The platoon suffered heavy losses (only one officer and two soldiers returned) but managed to take 50 prisoners. Around 08:50 a.m., two platoons from the reserve were sent forward to Inverness Copse to reinforce the Somerset Light Infantry and the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry. Around 10:00 a.m., the headquarters, due to mounting losses, had to withdraw a few meters to a position in Jasper Avenue. At 11:00 a.m., A Company was sent to the western part of Inverness Copse following a request for further reinforcements. In addition, three platoons were sent to the attack’s starting positions to secure them as support. Later, these three platoons were also moved towards Inverness Copse. These positions were held for the rest of the day. Over the next two days, fighting continued for control of Inverness Copse, which ultimately remained largely in British hands.
Albert Parkes Baker was killed on 22 August during these operations near the headquarters in Inverness Copse. The battalion suffered losses of 53 killed, 205 wounded, 57 gas casualties, and 54 missing. After the war, he was reburied at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Plot 46, Row G, Grave 12.
Sources 4
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10 Battalion Durham Light Infantry (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1908/1). https://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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1891 Scotland Census (National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (NRS), Reels 1-409). http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
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1901 Scotland Census (National Records of Scotland, Edinburgh (NRS), Reels 1-446). http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
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Scotland, National Probate Index (Calendar of Confirmations and Inventories), 1876-1936 http://Ancestry.com Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461797 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=e36d1177-0f6e-451c-9e03-79df137e3b4a |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/138732 |