On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Mate Daniel Baker serving on S.S. John O. Scott (Newcastle) with the Mercantile Marine who died 18/09/1918.

He was the son of Harriet Baker, and the late Daniel Baker and the husband of Annie Baker (nee Kelly), of 10, Mowbray Road, Sunderland. He was born at Chislet, near Canterbury.

Pauline Priano has submitted the following;

Daniel Baker Jnr was one of 9 known children. His father Daniel Baker Snr was born at Lympne in 1837, his mother Harriet Lane in circa 1841 at Hythe, both in the county of Kent where they were married in 1864.

In 1871 they were living in the village of Bossingham in the parish of Upper Hardres near Canterbury where Daniel Snr was and agricultural labourer supporting his wife and 3 children, Elizabeth who was born in 1865, Martha 1866 and John 1868.

Upper Hardres was also the birthplace of Daniel Baker Jnr in 1870, Hannah in 1872, Harriet 1874 and Edward in 1876. They had moved to Chislet by the time Richard was born in 1879 and Frank, March 19th 1881. 

In 1881 they were living at Highstead in the parish of Chislet. Daniel Snr was still working the land, his elder children including Daniel Jnr were scholars, the younger children remained at home. Elizabeth (16) was employed as a servant in the home of corn miller John Wootton, his wife and family at Mill House, Chislet. Martha (14) in 1881 can be found with a widow Ann Crust at 20 Monastery Street, Canterbury.

While the rest of the family remained at Chislet, in 1881 Daniel Baker Jnr was a sea apprentice, boarding at Whitstable in the home of Sea Master Mariner, Edward J Camburn, his wife and family but had migrated to Sunderland, County Durham, where he was married, May 14th 1894 to Ann Kelly. Affectionately known as Annie, she was the daughter of Irish immigrant Patrick Kelly and Ann Wanless a native of Sunderland also the birthplace of Annie who was born, November 17th 1874.

His father Daniel Baker Snr died in 1895 in the district of Blean, Kent, he was 58 years old.

The first of Daniel and Annie’s children, Harriet Ann was born October 22nd 1895 at Sunderland and baptised at St. Mary’s, November 24th. Daniel was born July 29th 1897, Edward 1898, and Selina, March 17th 1901 while her father was at sea. Sunderland was also the birthplace of Florence, May 20th 1902 and Frank in 1905.

November 20th 1897 Daniel Jnr had obtained a certificate of competency as Second Mate and May 5th 1905 that of Master of a foreign going steam ship.

Master Mariner Daniel Baker and his wife Annie in 1911 were visitors in the home of Police Constable George Bysouth, his wife and 5 children who lived in 8 rooms at 101, Upper Kensington Lane, Kensington, S.E. London. They had left all the children at their home at 10, Mowbray Road, Sunderland, in the care of their daughter Harriet Ann (15) who completed the 1911 census in their absence.

In 1911 Daniel’s mother Harriet Baker (70) was living in 3 rooms at 71, Rancorn Road, Margate, Kent, with her widowed son Frank Baker and his 2 year old daughter Lilian Edith Frances. 

Their two youngest children Beatrice and Harold were born at Sunderland, January 2nd 1912 and 1914.

In 1918 Master Mariner Daniel Baker was serving as 1st Mate aboard the British Merchant Ship, S.S. John O. Scott, built by Wood Skinner & Co. Ltd., Newcastle in 1906, that during the war years was defensively armed. 

September 18th 1918, whilst en route from Barry to Dover with a cargo of coal, she was torpedoed by the UB-117 under the command of Erwin Wagner, 9 miles W by N from Trevose Head, Cornwall, and sank with the loss of 18 lives.

1st Mate Daniel Baker was lost when he was drowned, his body was never recovered for burial, his final resting place is the sea. 

His sacrifice is recorded as one of 36,065 names on the Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London which commemorates men and women of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets who died in both World Wars and who have no known grave. 1st Mate Daniel Baker was 47 years of age and the recipient of the 1914-1918 Mercantile Marine Medal. 1st Mate Daniel Baker’s widow Annie received a pension. 

Their son Daniel Baker at the age of 16 had joined the Navy, February 18th 1913 as Boy II, signing up for 12 years. He had risen to the rank of Able Seaman by 1917 and was discharged, freed from his commitment, May 10th 1919, on compassionate grounds. 

In 1921 Annie and her children, who had been previously living at 3, Churchill Street, had returned to 10, Mowbray Road, Sunderland. Harriet Ann (25) assisted her mother with household duties and caring for Beatrice (9) and Harold (6). Daniel (23) who had been employed as a seaman by Donaldson Line Ltd., Glasgow, was out of work and living at home. Edward (22) was working as a storekeeper for J.I. Thompson Ltd, shipbuilders, Selina (20) was employed by Thorn Reed & Co., Sunderland as a printer’s machine feeder, Frank (16) worked as an errand boy for Myers Wayman General Finishers, Sunderland.

Daniel’s mother Harriet Baker nee Lane died circa 1925/1926.

Further details of Daniel and Annie’s children;

Harriet Ann Baker married Richard Lawson in 1922, she died at Sunderland in 1933.

Selina Baker married James Logan in 1928. In 1939 they were living at 3, Churchill Street, Sunderland. It is highly probable that she met her future husband in the workplace as he was a printer’s mono typecaster also in the household was her mother Annie and her brother Frank who was still single and employed as a fitter’s labourer. Selina and James had 4 children. Selina Logan nee Baker died in the district of Sunderland in 1972, her death was preceded by that of her brother Frank, August 4th 1962 and subsequently by that of widower James Logan in 1995. 

Florence May Baker married Alfred C. Block in 1930 at Blitzing, Suffolk. In 1939 they were living at Ravens Lane, Henstead Beccles, Lothingland, Suffolk, where her husband was employed as a cowman/agricultural labourer. They had 4 children born between 1931 and 1941 registered in the county of Suffolk. Florence May Block nee Baker (80), resident at 16, Chartres Piece, Willingham, on the border with the Fens, died April 9th 1983 and was cremated April 15th at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

Beatrice Baker was married at Lambeth, London in 1934 to electrician, John Arthur Bysouth whose family was known to her parents. In 1939 they were living at Kensington Lane, Kensington, S.E. London, and with whom she had 4 children between 1940 and 1952. Beatrice Bysouth nee Baker died in Poole, Dorset, in 1988.

Harold Baker died in the district of Sunderland in 1966.

Widow Ann Baker nee Kelly died in the district of Sunderland aged 85 years in 1959.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Daniel Baker is remembered at Hendon on H123.02  and in our List of Ships’ Crews.