Pte. T. Baker
|
|
| First name(s): |
Thomas |
| Rank: |
Private |
| Number: |
201119 |
| Regiment etc. |
2/5th West Yorkshire Regiment |
| Date Died: |
2nd June 1918 |
| Cemetery/Memorial |
Pozieres Memorial
|
Thomas Baker was the youngest son of Mr. John Baker of 35 Tower Street, Harrogate. He was married to Kate and they lived at 120 Regent Avenue, Harrogate.
He was a "Beechwood Boy" (?).
He was serving as a batman to a Captain Pringle, who wrote to Kate Baker to explain the circumstances of his death.
It appears that Thomas was in the habit of leaving the officer's dugout to go and see his friends. On this particular occasion he went out into the trenches during a heavy bombardment, despite being warned not to, and he was never seen again. Searches were made in all the local dressing stations and neighbouring units, but no information was found to indicate that he had been wounded. Capt. Pringle told Mrs. Baker that it was unlikely that Thomas had survived the shelling and added:
He was a very brave man who always did his duty well and got on with the rest of his pals very well. He has been my batman for over 16 months and I shall miss him very much. How much more must his loss mean to you<.
Thomas' body was never found and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing on the Somme. He is also commemorated on the Congregational Church Memorial and the St. Peter's Church Memorial, in Harrogate.