Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Albert Baker a gas stoker, born 1864 in Birmingham, Warwickshire and his wife Harriet Millard Baker (nee Fitchett, married in the 2nd quarter of 1891 in the Leicester district), born on the 25th May 1866 in Nottingham. Ernest was born in the 2nd quarter of 1896 in St. Mary’s, Leicester, he had a half blood sibling, Alfred Fenton Fitchett, born 1888, in Leicester, his full blood siblings were Thomas, born 1893 and Albert Edward, born 1898, all his siblings were born in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 21, Albert Street, Leicester. In April 1911 Ernest was employed as a spinner and was residing in the family home at 21, Albert Street, Leicester together with his father, a corporation slater, his mother and siblings, Alfred, a rubber trade worker, Thomas, a rubber trade worker, Albert Edward, a schoolboy and Septimus Joseph Millard, a schoolboy, born 13th August 1906 in Leicester.
Ernest enlisted into the Territorial Force on the 17th May 1912 in Leicester, and was allotted the service number 1594. He gave his place of birth as St. Mary’s, Leicester and age as 17 years 4 months. Marital status as single and his trade or calling as wool hand, employed by Mr. Pickard, Oxford Street, Leicester.
His medical examination recorded that he was 5 feet 3 inches in height, had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 33 inches, his physical development was described as fair. He gave his religion as Church of England.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Albert Baker and mother Harriett Baker, 21, Albert Street, Leicester.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. Depot. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 17/5/12.
Posted. To 4th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 17/5/12.
Attended. Annual training, Aberystwyth. 4/8/12 – 18/8/12.
Attended. Annual training, Grantham. 3/8/13 – 10/8/13.
Embodied Service. Commenced. 4/8/14.
Killed in action. In the field. 7/8/15.
Summary of Service.
Home Service. 17/5/12 – 1/3/15. 2 years 291 days.
British Expeditionary Force, France. 2/3/15 – 7/8/15. 159 days.
Total service 3 years 85 days.
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Ernest’s surviving service record amounts to a total of eleven pages and these are in poor condition with much of the hand written information relating to his army service in some cases barely legible, damaged or missing entirely, however the content does offer at least a little descriptive insight into the events that took place during his period of military service.
The War Diary records: 7 Aug-15 - At 7.00am situation quiet. Wind South Westerly. At 11.00am Head Quarter’s “whiz banged”. At 6.00pm 48 trench “sausaged”. 2nd Lieutenant W. N. DUNN wounded by piece of sausage in calf. Casualties F.A. 2 other ranks. Wounded 2nd Lieutenant W. N. DUNN and 2 other ranks.
On Friday, August, 20th, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Private E. BAKER, 1/4th Leicester’s, was killed in action on August 7th. His mother, Mrs. A. Baker, who lives at 21, Albert-street, Leicester, has three other sons in the Army, one Sergeant T. Baker, being lost at the front. Also, she has three brothers-in-law and three nephews in the forces, a brother-in-law being at the front, a nephew, Gunner John Baker, R.F.A., whose home is at Syston, lying wounded in a military hospital in Birmingham. Private E. Baker was 19 years of age, and had been in the Territorial’s four years.
On Friday August 27th 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – A FINE RECORD. – Private E. Baker, 1/4th Leicester’s, was killed in action on August 7th. His mother Mrs. A. Baker, who lives at 21, Albert Street, Leicester, has three other sons in the Army, one, Sergeant T. Baker, being at the front. Also, she has three brothers in law and three nephews in the forces, a brother-in-law being at the front and a nephew, Gunner John Baker, R.F.A., whose home is at Syston, lying wounded in a military hospital in Birmingham. Private E. Baker was 19 years of age, and been in the Territorial’s four years.
On Thursday, September, 2nd, 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. THE ROLL OF HONOUR. – Mrs. H. Baker, of 21, Albert-street, Leicester, has received an intimation from the War Office to the effect that her son, Sergeant T. BAKER, of the 1st 4th Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial’s) is in hospital in Etaples, France, suffering from enteritis and shock. His brother, Private E. Baker, of the same regiment, was killed in action on the 7th August.
On Saturday, November 13th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. LEICESTERS: FALLEN OR MISSING - (A photograph accompanied the article). – Pte. E. BAKER, 4th Leicester’s, aged 19, killed in action. His mother lives at 21, Albert-street, Leicester.