Jun 8, 1887

Born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England to John Charles and Harriet Baker

Jun 25, 1915

Attested into the 59^th Battalion CEF in Smiths Falls, Ontario

Ø  Number 454405

Ø  Next of kin given as John Charles Baker, father, 9 Park Rd., Lowestoft, Suffolk, England

Ø  Previous occupation given as Labourer

Ø  No previous military experience given

o   It was later learned that he had served for 12 years in the Royal Horse Artillery and had been discharged on account of heart disease

Ø  Religion given as Church of England

Ø  Assigned to “C” Company

 
The battalion trained in the Kingston, Ontario area

 
Even though he gave his father as his next of kin, he stated that he was married to Mary Ann Baker and she was living with his father in Lowestoft, England

 
He lied about his age as he was born in 1887, not 1892 as stated on attestation

Oct 1, 1915

Appointed to the provisional rank of Lance Corporal

Apr 1, 1916

Embarked the SS Olympic in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Apr 11, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and proceeded to the Bordon Camp where his rank was confirmed as a Provisional Lance Corporal

Jul 6, 1916

Transferred to the 39^th Reserve Battalion in West Sandling to continue training

Aug 10, 1916

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request in order to be transferred to France.

 Transferred to the 21^st Battalion

Aug 12, 1916

Arrived at the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France as part of a draft of 77 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Aug 29, 1916

After leaving the base depot, he joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion as part of a draft of 29 reinforcements destined to join the 21^st Battalion

Oct 18, 1916

Medical Board declares his category to be TB (Temporary Base) and he is transferred back to the base depot in Havre

Oct 27, 1916

Due to an enlarged heart and shortness of breath, he was classified “C” and transferred back to England without having physically joined the 21^st Battalion

On arrival in England he was transferred to the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) at Shoreham-on-Sea and attached to the CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) in Buxton

Nov 5, 1916

Medical Board at Shoreham-by-Sea

Ø  Disability is described as AVD (Aortic Valve Disease)

Ø  Originated prior to enlistment

Ø  Patient has a history to St. Vitas Dance (tremors) at the age of 10 years

Ø  The above condition was aggravated by the strain of service

Ø  Complains that he has been short of breath all his life

Ø  Found to have an enlarged heart

 
Board recommends that he be discharged as permanently unfit for service

Dec 8, 1916

Discharged from the CEF in Buxton, Derbyshire

Ø  Rank of discharge Private

Ø  Discharged as permanently medically unfit

Ø  Proposed residence on discharge Lowestoft, England

Oct 28, 1929

Reginald Walter Baker died in Lowestoft, England of Cardiac Asthma and was buried in the Lowestoft Cemetery.  His death was considered to be a result of his service during the war.

Following his death, the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his current widow, Mrs. Merab Baker, 311 Raglan St., Lowestoft, England

No Memorial Cross was issued as he remarried after his discharge and his mother was deceased.  His first wife, Mary Ann, died while he was serving in the CEF