Cpl.F.Baker,DCM,MM,Rifle Brigade

[Terry]

Years ago I found a single Victory Medal to P/1624 Cpl.F.Baker, Rifle Brigade. I found an Honours & Awards book for the unit and it appears that Baker was a stretcher bearer who earned a Military Medal in late 1916 and then a DCM in late 1917. The latter was announced in the London Gazette of 26 Jan.,1918.

Could anyone help me with some basic questions:

1. Of what significance is the P in front of his unit number? .

2. I have a note which says he was with the 16th Bn of the Rifle Brigade, which was formed at St.Pancras in Apr.,1915. His MM supposedly was won around 27 Oct.,1916. Any ideas on what the battalion was up to at that time? The Somme?

3. His DCM supposedly was won around 22 Oct.,1917. Same question as above.

On this website I see that the 16/RB were with 117 Brigade of the 39th Division.

[Tom Morgan]

They were on the Somme on that date. According to "British Battalions on the Somme " (Ray Westlake) they took part in the attack on Stuff Redoubt on 21st. Objective - Pope's nose. Casualties - 138.

They went to Martinsart Road dugouts on the 24th, and on the 27th they went into trenches on the River Ancre Sector, staying there for some days.

Tom

[David Blue]

Terry,

The London Gazette is on line and the citation for his DCM will be held in this amazing data base. Important Victory medal, nice find.

David

[Terry]

David,

I will give the online Gazette a try, although I have had little success on previous attempts.

Terry

[Terry]

David,

Success! I played around and tracked down his citation. Very nice, involving him going ahead during an attack and setting up an aid post by himself (the MO had gone missing), organizing bearer parties and..."setting an example of fearlessness and devotion to duty that deserves the highest praise."

Can any UK Pal please tell me where Kensal Rise is? That address is listed after his name.

[stu]

Terry,

Kensal Rise is in North West London,it has the postal disricts of W10(North Kensington) and NW10(Willesden).

In your original post,you stated he enlisted in St.Pancras,I suspect he may have enlisted at Regents Park Barracks in Albany St(NW1),which incidently still has a painted R.B. badge faintly visible on one of the outside walls.This would have been his nearest R.B. enlistment centre(about 2 miles away from parts of Kensal Rise). Alternativly,he may have enlisted at Holborn barracks in Handel St(now a T.A. and O.T.C. centre) but I'm not sure of an R.B. connection here.

Nice citation,be nice to find the rest his group wouldn't it.

Stu

[Terry]

Stu,

I can dream, but seeing as how I purchased the medal years and years ago for $1.50. along with another to a Rifle Brigade MM winner for the same price, I don't imagine I will ever see the other gongs.

A Canadian dealer had several hundred Victory Medals for sale at the above price. I happened to have the Rifle Brigade Honours & awards book at the time; did a quick check of any RB names on the list and merrily sent my three bucks off for the two medals!

Terry

[stu]

Terry,

Its nice to hear of someone getting a "result" sometimes,it gives us all hope!!

Do you have an address for your man,I'm a London cabbie and I'am frequently in the Kensal Rise area,it would be interesting to see where this brave man lived,if his house still exists I might be able to get a picture for you.

Stu.

[Terry]

Actually, Stu, I didn't know he was from Kendal Rise until I ran down his DCM citation in the London Gazette online. I don't know anything at all about the fellow.

Terry

[Neil Mackenzie]

The 1901 census shows a 7 year old Frank Baker living at 11 Winchester Avenue near Kensal Rise see here)

Further supporting information is required though (age, first name etc) as there may well be no connection at all.

Neil

[Cliff. Hobson]

For there is good news yet to hear and fine things to be seen,

Before we go to Paradise by way of Kensal Green.