Stoker 1st Class George Edward Baker
| Date of Birth | 20 September 1893 |
|---|---|
| Age at Death | 21 |
| Date of Death | 31 May 1916 |
| Service Number | K/18664 |
| Military Service | Royal Navy HMS Black Prince |
| Merton Address | 7 High Street, Merton |
| Local Memorial | Rutlish School, Merton |
Additional Information
George was the son of George Edward and Emily Baker, born in Godalming in 1894. By 1901 the Baker family had moved to Epsom where George senior worked in a paper mill. George junior spent part of his education at Rutlish School. By 1911 the Bakers were living in Merton and George was described as a labourer at a tile making works. He enlisted in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth in April 1913, after a period working as an outdoor porter.
After a year of training and service on a couple of different ships, George joined the crew of HMS Black Prince on the 21st April 1914. This ship was part of the British Grand Fleet and took part in the Battle of Jutland. There is some confusion about what happened to the vessel but it seems to have exploded and sank quickly. The entirety of her 857 crew were lost, including George Baker.
He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval memorial, in addition to the Rutlish School war memorial.