Royal Aero Club Aviators’ Photograph

Photo : Brian Chandler

Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate

Hartlepool News Daily Mail Friday 04/05/1917

The family headstone reads:

In
loving memory
of
Laurence Edgar Baker
2nd Lieut. R.F.C.,
who was killed in the service of his country,
on May 1st 1917, aged 22 years.
R.I.P.

Laurence Edgar Baker was born at 42, Alexandra Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, on the 17th March 1895, baptised 10th April 1895, at St. Margaret’s Church, Lowestoft the son of Edgar George Baker, [born 1852 Swaffham who died in 1902 at Lowestoft], and Mary Ann Garwood, [nee Roope], [born 1857], who had married on the 13th March 1876 at Lowestoft, Suffolk.

He was the youngest boy of nine children, one died.

The other children were Emma, born 1881, Marjorie, born 1899, Kathleen, born 1893, Winifred, born 1891, James, born 1886, Florence Elizabeth, born 1884 and Lily May born 1878, who married Frederick Laughton Cattell, Vicar of St. Paul's Church, Whitley Bay.

Laurence was educated at the Ipswich Preparatory School and entered Ipswich School in 1905. In 1911, Laurence and his mother now a widow, were residing at 12 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich with his elder brother James, a commercial Clerk in a Timber Yard, and Marjorie his youngest sister. Laurence was employed by the Civil Service after passing his 2nd Division examinations, within the Customs and Excise Departments on the 9th February 1915. He was a junior clerk in the Patents Office, before moving to the War Office on the 19th March 1915, dealing with contracts.

Laurence attested and was embodied on the 23rd August 1915 as a private into the 3rd Honourable Artillery Company at Armoury House, Finsbury Barracks, Finsbury Park, Service nu 4236. Age 20 years 5 months, 5 feet 9 and three quarters of a inch high, Fair complexion.

Two HAC infantry battalions and five artillery batteries were mobilised for active service overseas during the First World War. After the outbreak of war on the 4th August 1914, the existing half Infantry Battalion was brought up to full strength and became the 1st Battalion, serving in France and Flanders from 18 September 1914. The 2nd Battalion was raised in September 1914 and sailed for France on the 1st October 1916 and saw active service in France, Flanders and Italy. The Reserve (or 3rd) Battalion supplied the other two Battalions with drafts from England.

The existing 'A' and 'B' Batteries of horse artillery were brought up to strength and sailed for Egypt on the 9th April 1915, serving both separately and together there and elsewhere in the Middle East. The 309th (HAC) Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery and the two second-line horse artillery batteries, 2/A Battery and 2/B Battery, saw action in France and Flanders from April and June 1917 respectively. The three (later two) reserve batteries remained in England. Around 13,000 members served with the HAC during this war and over 4,000 of these men were commissioned into other units. The Company’s casualties during this conflict totalled about 1,650 men who died serving either with HAC or other units of the armed forces.

Laurence was now residing at 39 Knolly Road, Streatham, S.W.

Armoury House, which is the home of the HAC, was built to replace a smaller seventeenth- century armoury. The central portion was completed in 1735 to designs by Thomas Stibbs. The building cost £1,690, which included the cost of the furniture. King George I (who died in 1727) gave the Company £500; subscriptions were also received from members of the Company and from the Commission of Lieutenancy for the City of London.

Laurence was appointed for a commission from the General List on the 4th September 1915 in the 3rd Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, which he joined on the 23rd February 1916 at Richmond, and was accepted for the 5th Officer Cadet Battalion and joined at Trinity College Cambridge on the 14th April 1916.

During the Great War 247,061 commissions were granted in the British Army. Some 100,000 of these went to men with OTC experience gained in the Public Schools and universities. High attrition rates, however, meant that demand for officers soon outstripped supply. From January 1916 new Officer Cadet Battalions (OCB) were formed. These provided a four month course for ex-rankers, many of whom were men of working and lower-middle class origins. New officers were granted commissions for the duration of the war. The Temporary Officers were often referred to as 'Temporary Gentlemen'. This became a term of derision for those who were not from the 'quality' classes.

Laurence was gazetted a temporary 2nd Lieutenant (on probation) for duty in the Royal Flying Corps on the 5th September 1916.

He passed his Flying examination at Hendon with the Ruffy-Baumann School in a Caudron Biplane on the 11th February 1917. Certificate number 4227.

Laurence was accidentally killed on the 1st May 1917, at Catterick whilst in 6th Reserve Squadron, he was flying a De Havilland Scout, no. 7913. Accident caused by switching off engine on left turn with nose up, at 700 feet, causing flat left spin. He was still alive when he hit the ground but died shortly after.

Because Laurence did not leave a will, a 'Committee of Adjustment' was formed at Catterick on the 7th May 1917, for the purpose of securing and making an inventory of all the effects of the late 2/Lt. L.E. Baker, General List, and ascertaining the amount of and paying the preferential charges on the property. The president was Captain S. H. Long D.S.O., M.C. from the Durham Light Infantry and R.F.C.

This was in accordance with the Regimental Debts Act 1893, Section 5.

UK Register of Soldiers Effects, Amount Authorized: £1 17s 4d To Whom Authorized, Mother, Mary Ann Baker.

The Yorkshire Post Friday 04/05/1917.

There was an inquest at Yorkshire. The evidence showed that Lieut. Baker made his first ascent alone on Tuesday evening. He had experience in flying, and was given instructions before ascending, previous to which his machine had been examined and found to be in good order. He made a good ascent, and after being up for several minutes the machine was seen to take a 'nose dive' to the earth. He was alive when aid reached him, but died almost immediately. One witness said the Lieutenant had evidently made a mistake in switching his engine off and taking a turn to the left. This was the first time he has used such a machine, but in witness's opinion he was qualified to go up alone.

The Coroner remarked that the deceased had evidently done what would have been quite right with another machine. He had kept its nose up instead of down, Such unfortunate accidents were almost inevitable in so dangerous an occupation, and the Lieutenant, who was learning to do his duty at the Front was quite as much deserving of Honour as if he had lost his life in France.

A verdict of 'Accidental death' was returned.

Shields Daily News 07/05/1917

LIEUT. L.E. BAKER: INTERRED AT WHITLEY

Lieut. L.E. Baker, while flying in this country on Tuesday last got into difficulties on a left-handed turn when about 70 feet up. His machine nose-dived to earth, and he was killed instantaneously. The late Lieut. Baker, on being released from his duties at the War Office, joined the Honourable Artillery Company, and later obtained transference to the Royal Flying Corps. He had just reached 22 years of age. He was a brother-in-law of Rev. F.L. Cattell, Vicar of Whitley, and was buried there on Friday with full military honours.

Whitley Seaside Chronicle 12/05/1917

Lieut. L.E. Baker of the Royal Flying Corps who was buried at the New Cemetery, Whitley Bay, on Friday, the 4th inst. was a brother-in-law of the Rev. F.L. Cattell, Vicar of St. Paul's Whitley Bay, full military honours being accorded at the funeral. The deceased Lieutenant was flying on Tuesday, the 1st. inst. when he evidently got into difficulties on a left hand turn when about 700 feet up. His machine nose-dived to earth, and he was instantly killed. The late Lieutenant was originally at the War Office, and on being released from his duties there, joined the Honourable Artillery Company, later obtaining transference to the Royal Flying Corps.

In 1919 Laurence's mother had written to the War Office to point out errors that had been made in her son's Memorial Scroll, with an incorrect spelling of her son's Christian name. Also to advise of her new residence address. She had moved on the 28th September 1917 to 10 Perrys Road, Acton, London.

Acknowledgements: Angela Conroy

Laurence Edgar Baker is remembered at Whitley Bay on W84.02

He is also remembered at his School at Ipswich on the War Memorial.

Ipswich School War Memorial
The CWGC entry for 2nd Lieutenant Baker