Introduction

After a childhood spent at Halstock, South Wales, Hardington and Yeovil, Edwin George Baker enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry at the age of eighteen. He served with his regiment in India and was promoted to the rank of corporal. After nine years of military service, he died of typhoid fever in an army hospital near Southampton in 1901.

Early life

Edwin was born at Halstock in about 1874. His father, George, was a farm labourer from Hardington, and his mother, Emily, came from the same parish.

When Edwin was two or three years old, his parents moved to Morganstown, Glamorganshire, where they had two daughters.

By April 1881, the family had moved to Cowcroft, Hardington, where George worked as a shepherd.

After a few years, his family moved to Yeovil. By April 1891, Edwin lived with his parents at 4 Coronation Buildings, and his occupation was platelayer.

Military career

On 6 February 1892, Edwin enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry, with regimental number Som/3526. At the time, he was eighteen years old and stood 5 feet 4 and a half inches tall.[1]

By March 1901, he had achieved the rank of corporal.

Death

On 31 March 1901, Edwin was a patient in the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, Hampshire, receiving treatment after returning from India.[2] The specific nature of his illness at that time is unknown, but on or about 18 April 1901, he was diagnosed with typhoid fever, from which he died twenty-one days later.

His body was interred at St John’s, Yeovil, on 14 May 1901.

Father’s later life

Soon after Edwin’s funeral, the Osborne Brewery advertised the Butcher’s Arms beerhouse, Yeovil, as available to let from Midsummer.[3] Edwin’s father, George, became the landlord at about that time, possibly using savings inherited from his Edwin to fund the venture. When George died in December 1914, a newspaper reported that he had been the licensee of the Butcher’s Arms for twelve years.[4] After his death, his wife ran the pub for an additional nine months.[5]

References

[1] Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records, 1760-1920.

[2] Western Gazette, 24 May 1901, p.6.

[3] Western Gazette, 17 May 1901, p.5.

[4] Western Chronicle, 1 January 1915, p.4

[5] Western Chronicle, 1 October 1915, p.5.