Introduction
Henry George Baker is one of the village’s valiant war dead of 1914-18 and is commemorated on the memorial in the church. He was the third man from the village to lose his life in the war.
Childhood
Henry George Baker was born at Hardington in 1893, the third of six children born to Thomas and Charlotte Baker.[1] His father, Thomas, was a farm labourer. His mother, Charlotte, was the daughter of Albert Marsh, also a farm labourer.
His parents were married in 1890 and lived in several cottages in the village, probably moving as his father changed employers.[2] In 1891, they lived at Cowcroft Farm.[3] From 1896 to 1910, they lived at Bridge Close Farm Cottages.[4] They then lived in the High Street, followed by the cottage in the Barry Lane dip, and then the High Street again.[5] By June 1921, they lived in the cottage opposite the New Inn.[6]
Before the war, Henry was a farm labourer.[7]
First World War
In 1914, Henry was one of four cousins from Hardington who were the first to volunteer for service in the New Army.[8] By November of that year, he and his older brother, Arthur, were both serving with the Dorset Light Infantry.[9] He held the regimental number 10388.[10]
On 4 August 1915, he was killed in action while serving with the 6th Battalion of the Dorset Regiment at the age of 22.[11] Lieutenant B. C. Mozley of his platoon wrote to his parents, describing him as “a fine shot, as is his brother”. The Sunday evening after the village learned of his death, the curate, Rev. Milligan, held a memorial service at Hardington Church.[12]
His outstanding pay of £2 15s 7d was paid to his father on 4 December 1915, and a war gratuity of £3 was given on 31 July 1919.[13] His mother received a supplementary allowance of 3s a week.[14]
Post-war
Henry’s father died in 1933 at the age of 70, and his mother died in 1942 at the age of 77.
References
[1] Civil Registration Birth Index.
[2] Civil Registration Marriage Index.
[3] RG12, piece 1895, folio 115.
[4] RG13, piece 2297, folio 41, page 2; voters’ lists.
[5] RG14, piece 14381; Guardian valuations; voters’ lists; Western Gazette, 8 May 1914, p.1.
[6] RG15, piece 11308, schedule 12.
[7] RG14, piece 14381.
[8] Western Chronicle, 3 September 1915, p. 8.
[9] Western Chronicle, 6 November 1914, p. 6.
[10] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
[11] Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
[12] Western Chronicle, 3 September 1915, p. 8.
[13] Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
[14] World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.