William Charles Baker was born on the 31st Jan 1890, the son of William Henry and Sarah Baker of 21 Fleet Street, Swansea. He had three older sisters and his father worked as a milk vendor.

William’s father died whilst he was young, and in the 1901 Census, he was living with his widowed mother (working as a Charwomen) and 2 sisters. He is referred to as ‘Willie’.

According to his Grandson, he worked as a barman in various pubs and hotels before the War.

After the War, he married Margaret Francis in 1922 and they had 3 children, 2 girls and boy. Like many men after the war, times were difficult and his family recollect that he was out of work for seven years in the 1920s.

In the 1939 Register, he was living at No 2 Aberdyberthi St, Swansea with his wife and one of his daughters and working as a ‘Examiner. Cartridge Cases’. He continued this work through WW2 where he was a shell casing inspector in a munitions factory and was in the Home Guard where he became a sergeant. The factory became part of ICI and he retired from there with a long service award in 1950.

William died on the 27th Jan 1980, just before his 90th Birthday at the home of his youngest daughter in Wembley.

William’s grandson recollects, I remember him as a slight, quiet man, always pleasant, but someone who was a little reserved; not surprising I suppose.

William Charles Baker enlisted as a Driver in the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade on 15th Mar 1915 and was given the service number 1255.

William’s service record did not survive, but some family photos, coupled with other remaining records and recollections give an indication of his service.

William would have started his training in Swansea at the Brigade Headquarters and a surviving photo shows him with his fellow recruits at the time. His family recollects that much of his training was in North Wales.

There is no evidence that William served with the Brigade in Egypt (the later recruits were typically sent where they were needed), however multiple sources point to his involvement in the Salonika Campaign.

On 5 Feb 1917, he was admitted to the 66th Field Ambulance for 3 days. The record shows that he had completed 2 months with the Field Force and at that stage and was serving with the 101 Brigade RFA, a Howitzer Battery of the 22nd Division.

Records show that the 22nd Division was one of Kitchener’s New Army Divisions, arriving in Salonika in late 1915 and remaining there for the duration of the campaign (from late 1915 through to the armistice with Bulgaria on 30 Sept 1918).

William was eligible to Silver War Badge, and these records show that his final unit was ‘B’ Battery, 57th Brigade. Once again, 57th Brigade was a Howitzer Brigade that served in the Salonika Campaign.

William’s grandson recollects that his family believed that he ended the War in Bulgaria; my Aunt gave me the reference to Bulgaria where he once told her of being amazed of church spires glistening in the sun in gold.

William returned to Swansea quickly, and a photo of him and comrade, dated 4 Mar 1919 in Swansea has survived.

There is uncertainty on William’s exact discharge date. His pension records states 9 Jul 1919 and the Silver War Badge Roll states 5 Aug 1919. His pension records show that he suffered from the after-effects of Malaria and Dysentry for some time after he was discharged.

William received to British War Medal and Victory Medal.