Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Baker a postman and bootmaker, born in the July quarter of 1847 in Great Easton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 29th August 1847 in St. Andrew’s Church, Great Easton (son of John Baker, 1810-1861 and Sarah Claypole, 1809-1892) and his wife Emma Baker (nee Simkin, married in the April quarter of 1878 in the Uppingham, Rutland district), born in the October quarter of 1851 in Hallaton, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th January 1852 in the Church of St. Michael & All Angels, Hallaton (daughter of Joseph Simkin, 1822 and Mary Ann Blaxley, 1816). Harold Edward was born in the April quarter of 1896 in Great Easton, he had one sibling, George, Frederick born on the 22nd September 1888 in Great Easton, in March 1901 the family home was at Great Easton.
In April 1911 Harold was absent from the family home at Great Easton, residing there was his widowed father, a rural postman and boot repairer and his sister Edith, born in the April quarter of 1879 in Great Easton.
FAMILY NOTES: Harold also had the following siblings, Herbert, born on the 4th April 1882 in Great Easton and who died aged 1 month on the 11th May 1882 in Great Easton and was interred on the 13th May in Great Easton Churchyard and Albert, born on the 5th January 1885 in Great Easton.
Harold’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Watford into the Regular Army. Date not known.
Joined. At place and date not known.
Posted. To Bedfordshire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 12210.
Posted. To 6th (service) Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France. 30/7/15.
Posted. To 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regt. “A” Company. Pte. Date not known.
Reported. Missing in action. In the Field. 23/4/17.
Accepted for official purposes to have died on or since 23/4/17.
Body not recovered. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Harold nominated his widowed father William Baker, as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 23 Mar-17 – ZOUAVE VALLEY. Battalion attacked LA COULOTTE. Casualties –
Killed. Captain C. A. S. MORRIS, 2nd Lieutenant T. M. K. FLETCHER, 2nd Lieutenant V. E. CURRY.
Missing (Believed killed). 2nd Lieutenant T. ACKROYD.
Wounded and missing. 2nd Lieutenant F. D. R. ILLINGWORTH.
Wounded. Lieutenant P. F. HART, 2nd Lieutenant A. F. WOODFORD, 2nd Lieutenant W. M. STANTAN, 2nd Lieutenant A. J. FYSON, 2nd Lieutenant W. M. STANTAN, 2nd Lieutenant F. HAGUE, Lieutenant H. A. DEACON.
Other Ranks 320.
Relieved by 13th Infantry Brigade and withdrew to Camp at BERHONVAL. Stayed night and marched on to billets at CAMBLIGNEUL.
On Friday May 25th 1917, The Midland Mail, established as “Market Harborough Mail.” published the following article on page 5 under the heading. – LOCAL WAR ITEMS. – Market Harborough and District. – GREAT EASTON MAN MISSING. – News has been received from the War Office by Mr. William Baker that his son Harold has been missing since April 23rd, 1917. The young man was with the Bedford’s, and attached to the Machine Gun Company. He had been wounded once in France and returned to the front. Nothing had been heard of him for the last three weeks until the news arrived that he was missing. It is hoped that better news may be forthcoming. He has another brother serving with the Forces. Much sympathy is felt with the father and sister in their anxious time.
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