Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 25340 Thomas William Baker (MM)

Age: 24
From: Liverpool
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 28th March 1918
Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
Panel Ref: P21-23

Thomas William Baker was born on 12th October 1893 at 11 Severn Street, off St. Domingo Road, Everton Brow, to Liverpool born painter William Baker and his Liverpool born wife Mary Ann (nee Naylor). They were married on 17th May 1891 at St. Peters Church Liverpool. William was a 21 year old painter of College Lane, father Robert a carter, whilst Mary was aged 21 of Oldham Street, father James a labourer. They went on to have 6 boys and 3 girls.Their 6th child Mary Elizabeth Baker died in 1905 aged 3. Thomas was their 2nd eldest child of 9 and he was baptised Thomas William on 07th January 1894 at St. Matthew's, Church of England on Scotland Road Liverpool. However, the Army records do not reflect his second Christian name of William.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 5 Whitman Street, Wavertree, Liverpool. Father William 30 a paper hanger, mother Mary A. 30, children Robert J. 9, Thomas W. aged 7, George E. 5, John H. 3, William 1 (everybody born Liverpool).

By the time of the 1911 Census the family have moved to 4 Oak Street, Wavertree, Liverpool. His father William is aged 40 and a paper hanger, his mother Mary Ann is 40 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 20 years and have had 9 children 8 of whom have survived. All of their surviving children are in the household; Robert James 19 a painter, Thomas William aged 17 a cable presser, George Edward 13 at school, John Henry 15 shop errand boy, William 11 at school, Doris 7, Florence Isabel 5, and Harold 2.

On 1st August 1914 he was a witness at the wedding of his elder brother Robert James Baker to next door neighbour Annie Felton at St Bridgets Church Wavertree.

Prior to enlisting Thomas was employed by the Automatic Telephone Company.

Thomas enlisted in Liverpool as Private 25340 joining the 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

His brother George Edward Baker enlisted as Private 32180 joining the Prince of Wales's Volunteers, South Lancashire Regiment, later transferring to the Somerset Light Infantry as Private 39160.

He appears in a photo after his medal award at the front gate of Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Co.Ltd, Milton Road, off Edge Lane, Wavertree which was his place of work prior to enlisting.

On 18th June 1917 his award of the Military Medal is listed in the London Gazette and on 19th June 1917 the Liverpool Echo also lists his award of the M. M.

The award of his Military Medal was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 19 May 1917;

WAVERTREE SOLDIERS MEDAL.

Pte T. W. Baker, who resided with his parents at Oak Street, Wavertree, has been awarded the military medal for meritorious work at the front. The official report is as follows:- “For conspicuous gallantry during the attack on Heninel on 9th April, 1917, as battalion runner. On many occasions he went from advanced battalion headquarters to the companies with messages, at all times exposed to heavy shell, machine gun, and sniping fire. His Colonel's remarks were:- “The work done by this man was of great value to me, and was done in the most arduous circumstances”; whilst Brigadier General Stanley's tribute was, “A fine performance, worthy of all praise.” Previous to joining up, Baker was in the employ of the Automatic Telephone Company.

He was killed in action on 28th March 1918, aged 24, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary records the events of the day as follows:

During the morning the enemy attacked the troops on our right flank and succeeded in capturing ARVILLERS, menacing our right flank. Three companies of the Battalion had to be immediately echeloned backwards as protection, the Battalion engaging the enemy, who were attempting to come out of ARVILLERS. This position was held during heavy fighting until 2pm when the Battalion was informed that French troops had come into position in the rear. In order for the Division to be relieved the Battalion had to hold their ground whilst the 2^nd Bedfordshire Regt and 2^nd Bn. R.S.F.’s passed through on their way to the rear. At 4pm the Battalion commenced to move off in small parties, passing through the French, and marching through MEZIERES, MOREUIL to MORISEL where hot dinner was provided. The Battalion then formed up and moved up by companies to ROUVREL and were billeted for the night. By this time the total casualties had reached 23 Officers and 457 O.R.

Thomas' body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial in France.

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 04 May 1918;

FALLEN HEROES.

Private Thos, W. Baker M.M. (K.L.R.), has been killed at the front through the bursting of a shell on March 28. He was the son of Mr W. and Mrs C. Baker of Oak Street, Wavertree, and nephew of Mr T. Baker, St Michael's Road. He received his M.M. for gallant conduct at Heninel on April 9, 1917. His officer wrote expressing his regret saying he was always willing and cheerful.

His Army Pay of £15:14s:3d is sent to his father William on 13 June 1918 and a War Gratuity of £14:15s is also sent to his father on 28 November 1919.

He earned his three medals.

A Dependents Pension is paid to his mother wrongly shown as Mary Elizabeth Baker of 4 Oak Street, Wavertree, and not as Mary Ann Baker.

His family remembered him in the Liverpool Weekly Courier on Saturday 03 April 1920;

ROLL OF HONOUR.

BAKER— In loving memory of our dear son, Private T. W. Baker, M.M., 19th K.L.R., (Pals), killed in action, March 28, 1918. (Too dearly loved to be forgotten by father, mother, sisters, and brothers, 4, Oak-street, Wavertree, Liverpool. Canadian papers please copy.)

Fresh in our hearts your memory clings,

Yet still our grief is sore;

Each passing year will nearer bring

The day we'll meet once more.

The CWGC site wrongly shows him as the Son of Mr William and Mary E Baker.

The Everard Wyrall History of the King's Volume III wrongly lists his Death as Pte. 35240 and not 25340.

His father was buried at Kirkdale Cemetery on the 18th May 1922, aged 52.

His mother was buried at Holy Trinity, Wavertree on the 10th May 1937, aged 66.

We currently have no further information on Thomas William Baker, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

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