Private alfred charles baker 3rd bn 27th may 1918

[tharkin56]

Private Alfred Charles Baker, 41820 C Company 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment formerly 6613 Royal Warwickshire Regiment was killed in action, France age 20 on the 27th May 1918. He was the son of William and Laura Ellen Baker,of 5 Court, 3 House, Far Gosford Street, Coventry although his father died before him. Alfred was born on the 20th August 1898 and enlisted in Coventry in 1916. He is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial.

One of 5 worcestershire men commemorated in the war memorial park, coventry

[Mike Jones]

Hello Thaksin845,
I must say that I am very disappointed in our members for not replying to you. All you need it is a straight read from our Regimental history. Whilst many members have Captain Stacke's Regimental History, they cant be bothered to help for such a worthy cause! You may have to contact the Regimental Archives at Norton Barracks. They are extremely helpful and there is a link to them from the home page of this website. I can certainly help with Pte Alfred C Baker, though. I was recently down on the Aisne visiting the Worcestershire soldiers. However, your memorial park is for 264 men from Coventry, you say. That cant be the total of men who came from the City, can it? I have 52 men in the Worcesters alone who declared themselves born in Coventry and were killed in the Great War.
Fortune did not favour Alfred Baker. He was Drafted into the Worcesters just before he was killed. To make matters worse, the 3rd Battalion had had a bad time in Belgium and were sent down to the Aisne (France), to rest and recuperate. It had long been a quite area, beautiful as well. They left Belgium on 9th May 1918 for the easy time in France. On the 27th May, the Germans launched a massive surprise attack, right where poor young Alfred was. He was killed that day with at least 52 other 3rd Bn. men. The Germans had a stunning victory, wiping out all before them. Alfred has no known grave but I feel sure he is in La Ville-aux-Bois Cemetery, under an "Unknown" headstone. This cemetery has the highest proportion of unknowns on the Western Front. I could try to scan the 3 big pages of Captain Stacke to you , if needed.
Regards Mike Jones

[tharkin56]

Many thanks for your response. The war memorial park in coventry has plaques for 264 men of the 2600 men recorded in the city of coventry roll of fallen to have died. The plaques had to paid for at a cost of 25s in 1921, many of the men employees paid or families struggled to find the money to pay. Some plaques were not paid for until 1937. I estimate over 3000 men from coventry actually died.

I ahve marked up ever page in the roll of the fallen for worcesters men this includes name, birth date, occupation, employer, regiment, date of death, address and burial if known. Of the top of my head this is over 100 men to whom would i send these pages, also covers men who enlisted in Coventry. I have done the comparison for worcesters against Soldiers died in the great war to the roll and there is more information in the roll.

I think I have pictures of some of the men as well, would you also be interested in this. I would be interested in your pages . feel free to visit my web page www.warmemorialpark.co.uk details are on there including email and phone if you prefer. Thanks

[Edwin Astill]

From the War Diary for the day concerned:


27th 1.00am Bombardment began.
3.00am Bn arrived at MUSCOURT.
8.30am Bn was put at disposal of 50th Division.
9.15am Bn moved up to CONCEVREUX and took up position with A & B Companies covering the bridgehead at CONCEVREUX. C Company formed a defensive flank almost at right angles to the canal (the enemy had crossed the canal at PONTAVERT and were moving in a south westerly direction) and D Company were in reserve in trenches on slopes south of CONCEVREUX.
2.30pm Enemy broke through Bn on our right and worked behind the three front Companies and got into CONCEVREUX. After heavy casualties the Bn managed to withdraw and take up position on high ground south of CONCEVREUX with left on CONCEVREUX-VENTELAY road. Bn now about 120 strong. In the fighting around CONCEVREUX some of the Bn got separated and withdrew too far to the left.
10.30pm Bn again had to withdraw to S.W. of VENTELAY.
Following Officer casualties occurred during the day:
CAPT. E.A. HUMPHRIES MC (missing)
2/LT E.V. MATHEWS (missing)
2/LT R.C. GOOLDEN (wounded and missing)
LT W.E.J. WILL (wounded and missing)
CAPT. T. GRANT (wounded).

(The French General, under whom the Worcestershire were fighting, insisted on having most of his soldiers forward, although British experience during the two previous thrusts had indicated that saturation bombardment meant that forward positions should be lightly held so that sufficient men would be available to counter the German inroads)

Edwin

(Don't look at this site as often as I ought)