Name
Henry (poss Harry) Walter Baker
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
04/11/1914
26
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
8088
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
Plot III, Row A, Grave 43.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Mary's Parish Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Edith and the late Harry/Henry BAKER; husband of Esther Letitia Louise BAKER (formerly PAYNE, nee VARNEY).
His parent’s marriage is proving elusive. Harry died between 1891 and 1901. Edith possibly remarried 1 November 1903 at St Matthew’s, Oxhey, Herts, to Joseph MARLBOROUGH. Joseph died 1917 in Watford aged 75, and was buried 25 October in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Edith died 1930 in the Portsmouth, Hants, district aged 67.
Henry was born c1888 in Stanmore, Middx, and married 1 January 1910 at Wealdstone Parish Church, Middx; they had two children. He resided in Watford. Esther remarried 1916 in the Watford district to James K ENEVER, and died 10 December 1967 aged 78.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in Bushey, Herts, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 14 he still lived in Bushey, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a general labourer aged 23, he lived in Wealdstone, with his wife and one child.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Watford 3 October 1904 a labourer; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 16 August 1914, and died at No. 6 Clearing Hospital, Bethune, of wounds received after the Battalion was relieved from the support trenches east of Festubert.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Henry’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
His brother-in-law Frederick SEVERN died 31 December 1915 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
