BENJAMIN CHARLES BAKER
Born: 1894, Stoke, Ipswich.
Died: 3rd July 1916; age 22; KiA.
Residence: 16, Bradley Street, Ipswich.
Occupation: Ransomes & Rapier, Waterside, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Ipswich.
Date of Entry Therein: 30th May 1915 – France.
Rank: Private; Service Number: 16038
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment, 7th Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1915 Star.
Memorial Reference:
Pier & Face 1C & 2A.
Somme,
France.
Relatives Notified & Address: Only son of Mrs. Sarah Baker, of 16, Bradley Street, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1901 8, Great Whip Street, Ipswich.
Benjamin was 7 years old and living with his mother & sister.
Sarah Baker (nee Chenery), 37, born Blo, Norton, Norfolk.
Eva May Baker, 6, born Ipswich.
1911 16, Bradley Street, Ipswich.
Benjamin was 17 years old, a Wood Machinist for Ransomes and Rapier Water Side Foundry. He was living with his parents, sister & widowed maternal grandfather.
Benjamin Baker, 46, a G.E.R. Labourer, born Blo, Norton, Norfolk.
Sarah, 44.
Eva, 16, a Book Binder.
Charles Chenery, 85, born Thelnetham, Suffolk.
Soldiers’ Effects to Sarah Baker – mother.
Benjamin is also remembered on the war memorial at St. Mary at Stoke Church, Ipswich, and the Ransomes & Rapier war memorial, Bourne Park, Ipswich.
On 2 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the 7th Battalion was moved up to the British front-line trenches. On 3 July, as part of the 35th Brigade, along with the 5th Royal Berkshires, the 7th Suffolks Battalion took part in a two Brigade frontal attached on Ovillers, zero hour was set for 03.15 am. The first four waves reached the enemies’ third line of defence where the attack stalled after meeting very stiff resistance. Due to the darkness, the succeeding waves lost touch and could not assist. Casualties numbered 470 including all company commanders killed. The remnants of the Battalion remained in the trenches until 8 July. (research by Graham Jones)
THE SUFFOLK REGIMENT 7th (Service) Battalion:
Suffolk Regiment Battalion movements
SUFFOLK REGIMENT MUSEUM
Friends of The Suffolk Regiment
2 Comments
I have over the years traced my late mother’s family tree and find that Benjamin Charles Baker was her cousin. I know she had aunts and uncles in Ipswich as her mother, my grandmother (maiden name Baker) worked in Ipswich for a time and I think lodged with them, before returning to Norfolk. My mother did not know anything about them or Benjamin, other members of the family had moved to Hendon and Durham, as I understand there was little work for them in their home area.