William Thomas Baker

A Private with the 2nd Battalion, William died on 12th of October 1916 at the age of 30. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 23 December 1885, a son of William Thomas and Harriet Mary Ann Baker. He was baptised at Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft, on 7 March 1886. In 1891 his family lived at 8 Thurlow Road and this was still their home in 1901 when William was an apprentice printer. Later his parents lived at 10 Thurston Road. 

On 13 March 1905 William married Jessie Elizabeth Rivett and Saint Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft. William was a printer and they both gave their address as 8 Thurston Road. By 1911 they were living at 62 Herga Road, Wealdstone, Middlesex, and William was a printer’s machine minder. Later they lived at Watford. Subsequently Jessie lived at 20 Lovewell Road, Lowestoft. 

William enlisted in the Army at Bedford. He joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, service number 18149. At some point, in 1916, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion in France.

William was wounded in July/August 1916: possibly during the early stages of the Battle of the Somme. William was also awarded the Military Medal and this appears to be an award for the early stages of the Battle of the Somme. His award was published in the London Gazette 23 August 1916, page 8359. 

On 12 October 1916 the 2nd Battalion were engaged in an attack on Grid and Bayonet Trenches. The attack began at 2.05 a.m. and was made in four waves. When they reached a small ridge about 60 yards in front they came under heavy machine-gun and rifle fire from Grid Trench and the fire was so great that they were held up due to their heavy casualties. Two companies on the right were able to pass over the southern end of Grid Trench towards Bayonet Trench and they also came under heavy machine-gun fire and were held up. B Company then came up to reinforce the attack and were able to capture 200 yards of Bite Trench. At this point it was decided to dig in to hold the ground gained thus far. The 2nd Battalion were the only battalion on the whole Corps front to gain and hold ground that day. The night passed quietly without counter-attacks and the Battalion were relieved the next day. 

The Battalion’s casualties were:
Officers: 5 killed, 5 wounded
Other ranks: 49 killed, 49 missing, 2 wounded and missing, 137 wounded, 2 shell-shock 

William was killed in action on 12 October.

William's brother-in-law, Joseph Rivett, served with the 17th battalion Middlesex Regiment and died in 1917.