Name
Osbert Clinton-Baker
25/09/1869
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
09/05/1915
47
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant Colonel
Royal Irish Rifles
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 9.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the fallen in Belgium.
UK & Other Memorials
St Mary’s Church Bayford & Brickendon Memorial, Bayford. Stone Obelisk, Bayfordbury Estate. Winchester Collage WW 1 Memorial.
Pre War
Osbert Clinton-Baker was born on 25 September 1869, in Bayfordbury, Herts, son of William R. Baker, a Justice of the Peace for Hertfordshire and Edith Mildmay Ashurst Clinton-Baker (nee Majendie), one of six children. Baptised on 22 October 1869, at St Mary’s Church, Bayford, Herts.
1871 Census records Osbert (as Oswert) aged 1, living with his parents, sister and two brothers at his Grandparents William and Anna Baker’s home, Bayfordbury House, Bayford, Herts.
Osbert was educated at Sandroyd School, Chobham. Winchester Collage, Winchester, (1882-1887) and The Royal Military Collage, Sandhurst, (1887- 1890). Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant to the Royal Irish Rifles on 1 March 1890, Lieutenant 18 November 1894, Captain 24 February 1900, and Major 22 September 1906.
Serving in South Africa (Boar War) where he received the Queens South Africa Medal with 3 Clasps and the Kings South Africa Medal with two Clasps. After this he served in India, Burma, and Aden.
1911 Census record Osbert, aged 41, single, a Major with the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Rifle, Stationed at Alexandra Barracks, Maymyo, Burma.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of war Osbert was stationed in Aden, he embarked for England with his Battalion on 27 September 1915, arriving at Liverpool, and moved to Hursley Park, Winchester. Mobilized for war on 5 November 1915, landing at Le Havre, France, he was second in command. The Battalion was part of 25th Brigade, 8th Division.
He was at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10-13 March 1915), Out of 22 Officers, he was one of only four who were unhurt, his Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Brenton Laurie was one of those killed, Osbert was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 15 March 1915, and took Command of the Battalion. He was Killed in Action near Fromelles on 9 May 1915, while leading a party of his men. Two parties were sent out to protect the left and right flanks as the battalion was court in enfiladed gun fire. His party was practically annihilated.
He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the fallen in Belgium.
Additional Information
The value of his effects was £16-18s-7d, Pay Owing and £75, War Gratuity, which went to his estate.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Malcolm Lennox
