Leonard Alfred Baker

This name is on St Mark's War Memorial, Kennington Oval, London SE11

L. A. Baker (Leonard Alfred Baker) Service no 79029 Gunner, Royal Garrison Artillery, 61st Siege Bty. Died age 27 on 25 March 1917 Son of George and Sarah Baker. Husband of Mrs E. E. Baker, of 23 Iliffe Street, Walworth, London. Remembered at Bois Guillaume Communal Cemetery Extension, France, and at St Mark's Brother of Francis George Baker (also on the war memorial) British Army WWI Service Records 1914-1918 In January 1918, Emily Elizabeth Baker, widow of Gunner Leonard Arthur Baker, wrote to the Record Officer of her husband's regiment © "When Gunner L. A. Baker No 79029, R.G.A was admitted into the 8th General Hospital at lRouen, where he died on March 25th 1917 - he had in his possession 15½ francs which was to be forwarded to me later. It being now nearly ten months since his death I should esteem it a favour if this little matter could be seen into as the money will be handy as is needful for the little ones. Yours truly Mrs E. E. Baker" It is a polite letter, but contains a patina of desperation. Emily had two daughters to care for on her own in Iliffe Street (shown below): the wonderfully named Ena Queenie Baker and Muriel Eleanor Baker. She was living on a weekly pension of 22 shillings and 11pence (90p in today's currency and with the purchasing power of less than £30). The Army had carefully, and according to regulations, enumerated her husband's possessions - disc, correspondence, photos, cards, pipes, belt, 18 carat gold ring, knife, cap badge, fountain pen, candle, purse, pouch and tobacco, tin containing three cigarettes, tweezers, pencil, bullet head, piece of cake tobacco, book of postcards, notebook - but there was also a note: "P.S. Gunner Baker also had in his possession a silver cigarette case and silver wrist watch which I have..." and here the script becomes illegible. Presumably the officer took charge of these valuables - and possibly the 15½ francs - and pledged to return them separately, possibly by a more secure route.