Roll of Honour
Lieutenant Basil Howard Baker
Regiment: Rifle Brigade (2nd)
Conflict: World War One
Date of Birth: 28th March 1897
Date of Death: 22nd May 1918
Age at Death: 21
Burial/Memorial Location: Villers Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Only son of Rev. Samuel Howard Baker, Vicar of Chesterton, by his wife, Laura, daughter of John James Maltbey. Born in Leamington, Warwickshire and educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Gazetted 2nd Lieut. 20th Dec. 1915; promoted Lieut. 1st July 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 9th Aug. 1916; was wounded in the attack on Beaumont Hamel 14th Nov. following, and was killed in action at Mesnil Bouche 22nd May 1918.
Probate address was Chesterton Vicarage.
"Lieutenant Basil Howard Baker was the only son of the Reverend Samuel Howard Baker, of Chesterton Vicarage, Bicester. He was educated at Winchester College, where he was head of Mr. Ores’s House, and his pains-taking diligence enabled him to take a high place in the School. He came more to the front in the playing fields than the Schoolroom, being proficient in all games. He was considered to have the making of a good all-round cricketer and was very fond of all manly sports. After leaving Winchester, he was accepted for the entrance at New College, Oxford, but later passed into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He received his commission in the Rifle Brigade in 1915, and during his service in France in 1916 was attached to the ——— Battalion. He was wounded in Nov. 1916, at the attack on Beaumont Hamel and invalided home. In 1918 he joined the ——— Battalion with which he was serving at the time of his death at the age of 21. In spite of his very quiet and retiring nature his fine qualities seem to have been at once recognised in army life. He was greatly beloved by the officers and men of the Regiment and the Colonels under whom he has served have borne high testimony to his work and promise as a brave and efficient officer." Bicester Advertiser 31/05/1918