BAKER Frederick Edward

Frederick Baker was born on 28th February 1906, the son of Thomas Edward and Susan Elizabeth Ann Baker of Halesowen, Worcestershire. He entered Old Swinford Hospital on 21st December 1915.

Source for additional information: Old Foleyans Remembered Casualties of WW II published by the Old Foleyans Association, October 1996.

1911 Census
24 Queen Street, Halesowen
Thomas Edwd Baker, head, age 33, Tube bending for an Iron and Steel Tube Maker, born Halesowen, Worcestershire
Susan Elizabeth Baker, age 31, married 7 years, 4 children, 3 still living, 1 died, born London, Middlesex
Frederick Edward Baker, son, age 5, born Northfield, Worcestershire
Harold Bertram Baker, son, age 3, born Fishponds, Gloucestershire
Florence Grace Baker, daughter, age 1, born Bristol, Gloucestershire

Extract From The Worcestershire Regiment 1922-1950 by Lieut.-Colonel Lord Birdwood, 1952
Amba Alagi was the largest and most precipitous peak in a range of mountains which formed a natural barrier and entrance to the Abyssinian Plateau.  It was at the end of April that that the Brigade concentrated in the foothills below the main feature.

On the night of 3rd May the Battalion assembled in a nullah just north of a long, low feature, Sandy Ridge, which extended south up to the Alagi Massif.  The attack on 4th May was successful but to attempt to advance farther against the main position was considered too expensive.  The Brigadier therefore postponed the final assault until the early hours of 5th May.  The Middle Hill was secured by the 3/2nd Punjab before dawn, half an hour later Captain F.E. Baker led the Battalion to Little Alagi.  The Battalion attacked as the first rays of the sun were on the hill-tops but they were stopped by wire and machine-gun fire from two features to the East.  During the engagement Captain F.E. Baker was killed.  He had served in the Regiment first as a Boy and was one of the first Warrant Officers to receive his commission.  With his death the Battalion was deprived of the last of its Company Commanders who had faced the campaign before Keren, three having been killed and one wounded.