BAKER, Cyril Victor


No.63399, Private, Cyril Victor BAKER
Aged 21


2nd Battalion, (Prince of Wales' Own) West Yorkshire Regiment
formerly 35008 Yorkshire Regiment
formerly 55905, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
formerly 32486, Essex Regiment
Killed in Action on Monday, 7th October 1918


Cyril Victor Baker was born in Great Barton on 21st May 1897 (Risbridge Q2-1882 4A:564), son of Walter Herbert and Charlotte Maria BAKER (née BANTICK).



1901 census...Aged 4, he was at Cemetery Road, Ixworth, visiting his grandfather Harry BANTICK[65] farm labourer; his aunt Kate BANTICK[18]; his aunts Kate [18], Daisy [12] and Olive [10]. All the BANTICKS were born in Ixworth. Also there was another visitor, Nelly CARDIN [1] born London. His parent were at "The Compasses", Stansfield - father, Walter Baker [35] master baker and Innkeeper born Deepham, Norfolk; his mother Charlottie [29] born Ixworth, brothers Leonard [13] born Hamptead, London and Vere [1] born Stansfield; sisters Isabel [9] born Hampstead, London and Dorris [1 month] born Stansfield; his grandmother Jane BANTICK [50] and aunt Mary BANTICK [15] both born in Ixworth.

1911 census...Aged 13, he was at "The Compasses", Stansfield with his parents, brother Vere and sister Doris. The records show all three siblings from the marriage survive, that does not account for Leonard and Isabel, they are apparently Walter's children by a first wife, but she has not been identified

His father died in 1916, having moved the family to the Rising Sun, Little Wratting. They were still there in 1919



He enlisted in Braintree. The memorial plaque has him in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but that was only one of the regiments he had served in. He died in the West Yorkshires. Quite amazing, his records survive in two regiments and he has a large entry in Du Ruvigny.

On 14th February 1916, living at 36 Mount Road, Braintree, he attested and was placed on the Reserves. He gave his age as 18 years 9 months, a weigher of metal, 5 feet 3 inches (160 cm) tall, weighing 118 lbs (53.7 kg), chest 34" to 36" (86.4 to 91.4 cm). He was mobilised into the 3rd Essex on 26th October, and on posing to the BEF on 24th January 1917 joined the 1st Essex. Transferred to the 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 10th February 1917, the Yorkshire Regiment on 1st April 1918 and then to the 2nd West Yorkshire regiment on 17th June 1918.
On 23rd August 1918 he was gassed and admitted to 26 Field Ambulance who sent him down the line (gas-yellow) to 7 Casualty Clearing Station who passed him on the No 2 Australian General Hospital who diagnosed mustard gas. By 3rd September he was at No 12 Convalescent and posted to depot on 13th, returning to his unit on 15th September.
When his mother, at the Rising Sun, Little Wratting received his effect, just photos and a religious book she immediately enquired as to where the rest of his things were, he would always have carried letter, money, wallet, a ring and pocket book. Any reply is not with his records. On the Living Relative form in August 1919 his mother ( now at Wratting Road, Haverhill), recorded just herself, his brother Walter V [49] and his sister Dorothy. They must be the siblings previously recorded as Walter and Dorris.

His entry in Du Ruvigny's "Roll of Honour" reads
BAKER, CYRIL VICTOR_ Private.No 63399, 2nd Battn.(14th Foot) the Prince of Wales'Own (West Yorkshire Regt.) s.of the late Walter Herbert Baker , by his wife, Lottie (Wraithing Road, Haverhill), dau.of Harry Bantick, of Ixworth .co.Suffolk; born Great Barton, co.Suffolk 21 May 1897;educ. Stansfield C.C.School ; was a baker: on the outbreak of war, 4 Aug 1914, being too young to enlist he became a Munition Worker; Joined the Essex Regt.26 Oct.1916; was transferred to the 15th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in Jan.1917; to the 13th Yorkshire Regt in April 1918 and subsequently to the 2nd West Yorkshire Regt; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Jan 1917 and was killed in action north east of Beauvois and north of Cawdry 7 Oct.1918. Buried where he fell. His Commanding Officer wrote:" I more than regret his death, as he was one of the best men I had in my platoon, a good man and well liked by all ranks". He was awarded a certificate for distinguished conduct in the field which stated;"During the attack on 31 July 1917, when employed as Headquarters runner, this man did splendid work, going forward on many occasions with messages under heavy machine gun fire. Throughout he displayed the utmost cheerfulness and disregard of danger".unm.


This record cannot be correct regarding the place of his death (SE of Cambrai) since the battalion were 40 miles away NE of Arras, heading towards Douai Fresnes being Fresnes les Montauban, unless he was attached to another unit.

The war diary has :-
Greenland Hill Sector -7th Oct - The battn took part in the attack on the FRESNES-ROUVROY line. Dispositions as follows:
A Coy on left, B Coy in centre, D Coy on right and C Coy in Reserve. The Battn attacked at 5 am in conjunction with the 2nd Middlesex on the right and the 2nd Devons on the left. A magnificent artillery barrage was put down and all objectives were quickly reached with but little opposition, and very few casualties. A number of prisoners were taken, who all appeared very pleased to be captured.
After the attack posts were established round about GLOSTER WOOD and in FRESNES village.

CWGC records show 5 killed, 2 buried near Arras and three named on the Vis-en-Artois memorial. Cyril's grave was reported at Mont St Elois on the memorial, NW of Arras, but must have been lost later for his name to be on the Vis-en-Artois memorial.



photo: Rodney Gibson



Cyril Baker is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois memorial, panel 4

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK to Little Wratting home page