Henry Johnson Baker (1879 - 1916)

Born 14 Nov 1879 in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand

Husband of Ellen Eliza (Webb) Baker — married about 1902 (to 28 Aug 1906) in New Zealand

Died 2 Oct 1916 at age 36 in Somme, Hauts-de-France, France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Gary Houston [send private message]

Biography

Henry was born in 1879 at Lyttelton, New Zealand. He was the son of Henry William Baker and Mary Elizabeth Baker.

He married Nellie Eleanor Webb around 1902. They had two (possibly three) children:

• Violet Elizabeth Baker, NZBDM 1902/11134. She married John Anderson in 1926 [1].
• Nellie Eleanor Baker, NZBDM 1904/1385. She had a child in 1928, when staying with her aunt Annie Louisa Forman and uncle at Lyttelton [2].

His wife passed away in 1906, aged 24.

In 1915, he was ordered to pay 15s. per week maintenance for his three children, now in the Christchurch Receiving Home.

In World War I, he enlisted in the army in 1915, and was a private in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Wellington Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He was killed in action at Somme, France on 2 October 1916, aged 36. He was buried or commemorated at Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

Sources

• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for birth reg. no. 1880/3206, birth of Henry Johnston Baker, parents Mary Elizabeth & Henry William.
• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for marriage reg. no. 1902/851, marriage of Nellie Eleanor Webb & Henry Johnstone Baker.
• Press, 6 October 1915, Page 2, The Courts via Papers Past, Henry Johnston Baker ordered to pay 15s. per week towards the support of his three children, now in the Christchurch Receiving Home.
• New Zealand Births, Deaths, and Marriages search for death reg. no. 1918/66083, death of Henry Johnston Baker, age 37Y.
• Auckland Museums Online Cenotaph C617, Henry Johnson Baker, died 2 October 1916, service number WWI 10/3178, Army, Private, Wellington Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, next of kin H. W. Baker (father), 77 Ashbourne Street, Ferry Road, Woolston, Christchurch, single, embarked on HMNZT 35 or 36, vessel Willochra or Tofua, 8th reinforcements, killed in action on 2 October 1916 at Somme, Northern France, cemetery Warlencourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, V. B. 28, his brother Edward John Baker served in WW1 and WW2.
• Archives New Zealand Military Personnel Files R22272150, Henry Johnston Baker, WW1 10/3178, Army; [Image 1] medals auth to Violet E. Baker, eldest daughter. [Image 11] attestation dated [19?] July 1915 at Palmerston North, born Lyttelton, 14 [?] 1879, occupation bushman, last resided at Taihape, last employer Ridderford Mokai, not married [Image 12] attestation dated 24 August 1915 at Trentham, similar to Image 11, date of birth 14 November 1879, last address Riddiford's [Slatern ... ?], last employer Riddiford [Faitage?], previous service Hospital Chef [?], [Image 14] service reckons from 31 July 1915, 9 April 1916 embarked to France, appointed several times as company cook in 1916, [image 15] killed in action, 2 October 1916. [image 16] Next of kin H. W. Baker (father), No 77 Ashbourne St, Ferry Rd, Woolston, Christchurch.
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission 240763, Private Henry Johnston Baker, service number 10/3178, Wellington Regiment, N.Z.E.F., 2nd Bn, died 2 October 1916, buried or commemorated at Warlencourt British Cemetery, V. B. 28, France, son of Mr H. W. Baker, of Ashbourne St., Ferry Rd, Woolston, Christchurch.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #56568240, photo of headstone.