Harbourart Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 It is with great regret that I have to anounce the end of an era with the passing of Alice Baker - the last woman to serve in the Great War. http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story....3A25%3A19%3A470 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 I never even knew there was a female surviving who had served. Never mentioned in the lists of surviving vets! God bless, Alice. Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaymen Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 Peter Thanks for informing us. As Marina says, I wasn't aware that there was a surviving woman from the Great War either. May she Rest In Peace Glyn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FAAAEd Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 I never even knew there was a female surviving who had served. Never mentioned in the lists of surviving vets! God bless, Alice. Marina I echo your sentiments. I also suggest that the ignorance of this woman being a veteran of that war provides a prime example of one reason why honouring the veteran thought to be the last surviving with a state funeral when they cross-the-bar is a flawed concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Coulson Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 May she rest in peace. Bob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 4 March , 2006 Share Posted 4 March , 2006 A great old lady indeed and a sad loss after her long life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bydand Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 I to was ignorant to the fact that there was a surving woman from WW1. She seemed to be a wonderful lady. My heartfelt condolences goes out to her family. May she rest in piece. God Bless, Neil Drysdale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike10764 Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 Rest In Peace, Alice.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shelley Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 What an amazing woman! She lived on her own until she was 104 ! God speed Alice. Shelley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_Baker Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 Now this really is the end of an era - a sad day. As Gordon Rae (former Chairman of Birmingham WFA) says in his lecture on women in the war, "The ladies - God bless 'em"! Rest in peace, Alice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 R.I.P. Alice. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockney tone Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 Harbourart, thank you for posting this ladies wonderful story, RIP Alice. Scottie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Buck Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 When we started a WFA Norwich & Waveney Branch in 2000 we asked the RBL for details of veterans who would like to be contacted. We were given the names of two soldier veterans (both since passed away) who we kept in contact with. A third male did not wish to be contacted. It was only later that the branch became aware of Alice Baker through the EDP. The official interpretation of veteran then was, I believe, someone who had seen active service in the Great War so Alice apparently didn't qualify which I think was a very sad ommision. We will remember her and the valiant contribution she made! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 5 March , 2006 Share Posted 5 March , 2006 Yes as before God bless her, and yet again as mentioned before I only knew on the news of her death announced in the ST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ypres1418 Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 God Bless you Alice, on your this journey. Mandy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt_Hazell_Great_Grandson Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 A most sad passing.RIP. Roland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john w. Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 Just seen the report on Look East tonight. Alice was a Doper served with the RFC sometime in Dover. RIP Alice soon they will all be gone John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will O'Brien Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 Read about Alice's passing in the paper today. Very sad but it was a good innings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 6 March , 2006 Share Posted 6 March , 2006 RIP Alice. The time has now surely come for a national memorial to the part played by women in WW1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Roberts Posted 7 March , 2006 Share Posted 7 March , 2006 Was ALice Baker also the last surviving member of the RFC? I have a feeling that there is another aircraft mechanic around but was he in the RFC before it became RAF? (Henry Allingham of course was RNAS) Adrian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Birch Posted 7 March , 2006 Share Posted 7 March , 2006 Any family connection Chris? Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Hesketh Posted 7 March , 2006 Share Posted 7 March , 2006 Goodby Alice, and thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tombowcock Posted 7 March , 2006 Share Posted 7 March , 2006 And so slowly bit by bit the light begins to dim and soon darkness will be upon us. God Bless Alice Ad perpetuam rei memoriam James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan Posted 8 March , 2006 Share Posted 8 March , 2006 Here's another news clip and more photos: WWI aircraftswoman dies aged 107 Alice Baker lived in her own home until she was 104 One of the last surviving women to have served in World War I has died in Norfolk aged 107. Alice Baker, born in Costessey near Norwich in 1898, joined the Royal Flying Corps at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of Leading Aircraftswoman. During the war Mrs Baker served as a "doper" in Dover, which involved daubing the canvas wings of biplanes with a lacquer to make them waterproof. She died in her sleep at her Ditchingham care home last Monday. Max Arthur, a writer who specialises in first-hand recollections of historical events said her job in the Royal Flying Corps - forerunner of the RAF - was one of the many women had to do during the war. 'Great reverence' "Women did so much during in WWI - it's almost a forgotten area, and an area that should not be forgotten. Alice Baker served as a doper in Dover with the Royal Flying Corps "We should be giving great reverence to this lady and giving her a tremendous funeral and send-off." After the war, Mrs Baker became a nurse at St Andrew's Hospital in Thorpe before marrying Stanley, a police officer. Their son Leslie served as a bomber pilot in World War II. An ardent Chelsea Football Club supporter, she enjoyed the odd tot of brandy and was very much involved in village life in Hempnall, near Wymondham. In 1993 at the age of 94, Mrs Baker was invited to stand next to the Queen as she cut the cake at RAF Marham during the 75th birthday celebrations of the RAF. She was honoured with two surprise flypasts by RAF Coltishall squadrons - one to mark her 100th birthday and the other last July for her 107th birthday. Alice married Stanley, a police officer, after becoming a nurse Speaking on BBC Radio Norfolk in 1999, Mrs Baker remembered the first bike she had as a child. "We never had tyres like we did today and the roads were not even - they used to have stones put on them," she said. "I think a lot has changed, and not all for the better." Mrs Baker lived in her own home in Hempnall with the support of family and friends until she was 104, when she moved into All Hallow's Hospital in Ditchingham. Her funeral will take place on Thursday at Hempnall Parish Church. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harbourart Posted 8 March , 2006 Author Share Posted 8 March , 2006 Was ALice Baker also the last surviving member of the RFC? I have a feeling that there is another aircraft mechanic around but was he in the RFC before it became RAF? (Henry Allingham of course was RNAS) Adrian Adrian, Your feelings are correct, Bill Roberts worked as an aircraft fitter in the RFC. He told me he joined aged 15 but never saw active service. He witnessed the 1914 bombardment of Hartlepool and recalled meeting King George V and flying with TE Lawrence. Bill Roberts pictured in 2005 I have a short clip of my meeting with Bill (and some other vets) online at http://www.harbourart.co.uk/war/html/flash.htm. William Young also served with RFC during WW1, moving to Australia after WW11 Hope this helps Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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