William Baker (Indian Army officer) - Revision history

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	{{Short description\|British Indian Army general (1888–1964)}}		{{Short description\|British Indian Army general (1888–1964)}}
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	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
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	Baker took part in the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919 and was mentioned in despatches.<ref>London Gazette 3 August 1920</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/> Later in 1919 he was appointed an Instructor at the Cavalry School at [[Sagar, Madhya Pradesh\|Saugor]]<ref>Indian Army List Oct 1919</ref> before attending the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College\|Staff College, Quetta]] from 1921 to 1922.<ref>Indian Army List January 1921</ref> He became a [[Staff (military)\|General Staff Officer Grade 2]] (GSO2), on the General Staff at [[Southern Command (India)\|Southern Command]] on 24 August 1922<ref>Indian Army List April 1923</ref> shortly before the 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and 32nd Lancers were amalgamated in 1923 to form the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers. He became a GSO2 with the Australian Military Forces on 1 January 1924 and was attached to the Department of the [[Chief of Army (Australia)\|Chief of the General Staff]] in Australia.<ref>British Army List September 1924</ref>		Baker took part in the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919 and was mentioned in despatches.<ref>London Gazette 3 August 1920</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/> Later in 1919 he was appointed an Instructor at the Cavalry School at [[Sagar, Madhya Pradesh\|Saugor]]<ref>Indian Army List Oct 1919</ref> before attending the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College\|Staff College, Quetta]] from 1921 to 1922.<ref>Indian Army List January 1921</ref> He became a [[Staff (military)\|General Staff Officer Grade 2]] (GSO2), on the General Staff at [[Southern Command (India)\|Southern Command]] on 24 August 1922<ref>Indian Army List April 1923</ref> shortly before the 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and 32nd Lancers were amalgamated in 1923 to form the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers. He became a GSO2 with the Australian Military Forces on 1 January 1924 and was attached to the Department of the [[Chief of Army (Australia)\|Chief of the General Staff]] in Australia.<ref>British Army List September 1924</ref>

	Promoted to the substantive rank of major on 20 January 1925, he was appointed Squadron commander with the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers on 1 October 1928.<ref>Indian Army List October 1930</ref> He became a General Staff Officer 2nd grade at the Directorate of Staff Duties on 1 November 1929<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1930. He transferred to [[Probyn's Horse]] on 30 July 1933 as second in command<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934">Indian Army List April 1934</ref> and attended the [[Senior Officers' School\|Senior Officers Course]] at [[Sheerness]] in 1934.<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934"/> Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 20 January 1935,<ref>Indian Army List October 1937</ref> he attended a course at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies\|Imperial Defence College]] in 1936. He became [[commanding officer]] (CO) of Probyn's Horse on 1 November 1935<ref>January 1936 Indian Army List</ref> and took part in operations in Waziristan in 1936 and 1937.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.53205/2015.53205.Thackers-Indian-Directory-Including-Burma-And-Ceylon-1937-38_djvu.txt\|title=Thackers Indian Directory Including Burma And Ceylon, 1937-38\|accessdate=3 March ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Promoted to the substantive rank of major on 20 January 1925, he was appointed Squadron commander with the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers on 1 October 1928.<ref>Indian Army List October 1930</ref> He became a General Staff Officer 2nd grade at the Directorate of Staff Duties on 1 November 1929<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1930. He transferred to [[Probyn's Horse]] on 30 July 1933 as second in command<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934">Indian Army List April 1934</ref> and attended the [[Senior Officers' School\|Senior Officers Course]] at [[Sheerness]] in 1934.<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934"/> Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 20 January 1935,<ref>Indian Army List October 1937</ref> he attended a course at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies\|Imperial Defence College]] in 1936. He became [[commanding officer]] (CO) of Probyn's Horse on 1 November 1935<ref>January 1936 Indian Army List</ref> and took part in operations in Waziristan in 1936 and 1937.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.53205/2015.53205.Thackers-Indian-Directory-Including-Burma-And-Ceylon-1937-38_djvu.txt\|title=Thackers Indian Directory Including Burma And Ceylon, 1937-38\|accessdate=3 March 2018}}</ref>

	Baker was promoted to local temporary [[brigadier]] and given temporary command of the Kohat Brigade on 20 May 1936.<ref>October 1936 Indian Army List</ref> He then reverted to local temporary colonel and was given temporary command of the Tochi column on 10 December 1936.<ref>London Gazette 29 January 1937</ref> He was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] on 10 December 1937<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=34462\|page=7734\|date=10 December 1937}}</ref> for service in his role as commander officer of the 2nd Sialkot Cavalry Brigade during operations in [[Waziristan]] from 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937. He was also mentioned in despatches for his service in Waziristan for the period 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937.<ref>''London Gazette'' 18 February 1938</ref> Promoted to [[colonel]] on 15 January 1938 with seniority from 1 July 1934,<ref>July 1938 Indian Army List</ref><ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=34492\|page=1669\|date=11 March 1938}}</ref> he became Commander (as temporary [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)\|brigadier]]) of the Delhi Brigade Area on 15 January 1938.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/105055034?mode=transcription\|title=Army List November 1938\|accessdate=3 March ~~2022~~}}</ref>		Baker was promoted to local temporary [[brigadier]] and given temporary command of the Kohat Brigade on 20 May 1936.<ref>October 1936 Indian Army List</ref> He then reverted to local temporary colonel and was given temporary command of the Tochi column on 10 December 1936.<ref>London Gazette 29 January 1937</ref> He was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] on 10 December 1937<ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=34462\|page=7734\|date=10 December 1937}}</ref> for service in his role as commander officer of the 2nd Sialkot Cavalry Brigade during operations in [[Waziristan]] from 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937. He was also mentioned in despatches for his service in Waziristan for the period 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937.<ref>''London Gazette'' 18 February 1938</ref> Promoted to [[colonel]] on 15 January 1938 with seniority from 1 July 1934,<ref>July 1938 Indian Army List</ref><ref>{{London Gazette\|issue=34492\|page=1669\|date=11 March 1938}}</ref> he became Commander (as temporary [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)\|brigadier]]) of the Delhi Brigade Area on 15 January 1938.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/105055034?mode=transcription\|title=Army List November 1938\|accessdate=3 March 2018}}</ref>

	==World War II==		==World War II==

Bot at 18:59, 11 October 2022

2022-10-11T18:59:55Z

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{{Short description|British Indian Army general (1888–1964)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Sir William Baker
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date =7 December 1888
| death_date = 28 December 1964 (aged 76)
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place = [[Christchurch]], [[New Zealand]]
| death_place = [[Devon]], [[England]]
| nickname =
| allegiance ={{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch ={{army|British Raj}}
| serviceyears =1909−1944
| servicenumber =1430
| rank =[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]]
| unit =[[31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]]
| commands =[[5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse|Probyn's Horse]] Delhi Brigade Area Kohat Brigade Tochi Column
| battles =[[World War I]] [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] [[World War II]]
|awards =[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] [[Distinguished Service Order]] [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Mentioned in dispatches]] (4)
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] '''Sir William Henry Goldney Baker''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|KCIE|CB|DSO|OBE}} (7 December 1888 – 28 December 1964) was a British officer who served in the [[British Indian Army]]. Commissioned into the Indian Army in 1910, he served in France during [[World War I]] with the [[34th Poona Horse]] and later the [[Cheshire Regiment]], of which he was temporary commander of the 1st Battalion. Baker was [[mentioned in dispatches]] three times and awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]]. In 1918 he fought the [[Marri (tribe)|Marris]] in India with the [[31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]]. He then held a series of staff officer positions after the war before being promoted to lieutenant-colonel and receiving command of [[Probyn's Horse]] in 1935. He was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier and commanded troops in action in [[Waziristan]] in 1936 and 1937, being again mentioned in dispatches. During [[World War II]] Baker was an [[aide-de-camp]] to King [[George VI]] and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general before retiring from military service in 1944.

==Early life and military career==
Born the son of the Reverend H. G. Baker of [[Budleigh Salterton]],<ref name="times">{{cite news |title=Lt.-Gen. Sir William Baker |work=[[The Times]] |page=8 |date=29 December 1964 }}</ref> Baker was educated at [[Christ's College, Christchurch]] and, in [[England]], at [[Bedford School]], and then attended the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] where he passed out first in his class.<ref>''New Zealand Herald'', 1 March 1909</ref> He was commissioned to the unattached List of the Indian Army on 20 January 1909<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28216|page=479|date=19 January 1909}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28404|page=5676|date=5 August 1910}}</ref> and posted to the [[31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]] on 29 March 1910<ref>Indian Army List January 1919</ref> and was promoted to [[lieutenant]] on 20 April 1911.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28500|page=4186|date=2 June 1911}}</ref>

Baker saw service in [[World War I]]. He was deployed to France on 13 March 1915<ref name="ReferenceA">Indian Army List war services volume 1941</ref> and became attached to the 34th Poona Horse on 31 May 1915.<ref>The Poona Horse volume 2 p212</ref> Promoted to temporary [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] in the [[Cheshire Regiment]] on 21 September 1915<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29352|page=10899|supp=y|date=2 November 1915}}</ref> and to [[major]] in that regiment on 15 May 1916,<ref name="Quarterly Army List March 1922">Quarterly Army List March 1922</ref> he was promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 1 September 1915.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29687|page=7499|date=28 July 1916}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30011|page=3343|date=6 April 1917}}</ref>

Baker was promoted to acting [[lieutenant-colonel]] on appointment as acting commanding officer of the 1st battalion of the Cheshire Regiment on 22 August 1916 <ref name="Quarterly Army List March 1922"/> and awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]].<ref>{{London Gazette|city=e|issue=13099|page=1060|date=4 June 1917}}</ref> He was also [[mention in despatches|mentioned in despatches]] three times.<ref>London Gazette 4 January 1917</ref><ref>London Gazette 22 May 1917</ref><ref>''London Gazette'' 28 December 1917</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/> He was promoted to brevet major on 1 January 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|supp=y|issue=30450|page=12|date=28 December 1917}}</ref> and to acting major in the Indian Army on 3 February 1918 while temporary second in command of the 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers. He took part in the operations against the [[Marri (tribe)|Marri]]s between 18 February to 8 April 1918.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

==Between the wars==
Baker took part in the [[Third Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1919 and was mentioned in despatches.<ref>London Gazette 3 August 1920</ref><ref name="ReferenceA"/> Later in 1919 he was appointed an Instructor at the Cavalry School at [[Sagar, Madhya Pradesh|Saugor]]<ref>Indian Army List Oct 1919</ref> before attending the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Staff College, Quetta]] from 1921 to 1922.<ref>Indian Army List January 1921</ref> He became a [[Staff (military)|General Staff Officer Grade 2]] (GSO2), on the General Staff at [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]] on 24 August 1922<ref>Indian Army List April 1923</ref> shortly before the 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and 32nd Lancers were amalgamated in 1923 to form the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers. He became a GSO2 with the Australian Military Forces on 1 January 1924 and was attached to the Department of the [[Chief of Army (Australia)|Chief of the General Staff]] in Australia.<ref>British Army List September 1924</ref>

Promoted to the substantive rank of major on 20 January 1925, he was appointed Squadron commander with the 13th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers on 1 October 1928.<ref>Indian Army List October 1930</ref> He became a General Staff Officer 2nd grade at the Directorate of Staff Duties on 1 November 1929<ref name="ReferenceA"/> and was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1930. He transferred to [[Probyn's Horse]] on 30 July 1933 as second in command<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934">Indian Army List April 1934</ref> and attended the [[Senior Officers' School|Senior Officers Course]] at [[Sheerness]] in 1934.<ref name="Indian Army List April 1934"/> Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 20 January 1935,<ref>Indian Army List October 1937</ref> he attended a course at the [[Royal College of Defence Studies|Imperial Defence College]] in 1936. He became [[commanding officer]] (CO) of Probyn's Horse on 1 November 1935<ref>January 1936 Indian Army List</ref> and took part in operations in Waziristan in 1936 and 1937.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.53205/2015.53205.Thackers-Indian-Directory-Including-Burma-And-Ceylon-1937-38_djvu.txt|title=Thackers Indian Directory Including Burma And Ceylon, 1937-38|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref>

Baker was promoted to local temporary [[brigadier]] and given temporary command of the Kohat Brigade on 20 May 1936.<ref>October 1936 Indian Army List</ref> He then reverted to local temporary colonel and was given temporary command of the Tochi column on 10 December 1936.<ref>London Gazette 29 January 1937</ref> He was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]] on 10 December 1937<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34462|page=7734|date=10 December 1937}}</ref> for service in his role as commander officer of the 2nd Sialkot Cavalry Brigade during operations in [[Waziristan]] from 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937. He was also mentioned in despatches for his service in Waziristan for the period 25 November 1936 to 16 January 1937.<ref>''London Gazette'' 18 February 1938</ref> Promoted to [[colonel]] on 15 January 1938 with seniority from 1 July 1934,<ref>July 1938 Indian Army List</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34492|page=1669|date=11 March 1938}}</ref> he became Commander (as temporary [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]]) of the Delhi Brigade Area on 15 January 1938.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/105055034?mode=transcription|title=Army List November 1938|accessdate=3 March 2022}}</ref>

==World War II==
Baker also saw service in [[World War II]]. He was appointed [[aide-de-camp]] to [[George VI of the United Kingdom|the King]] on 1 April 1940, promoted to acting [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|major-general]] on 16 June 1940 and promoted to the substantive rank of major-general on 26 October 1940 with seniority from 22 April 1940. He became Director of Organization at [[India Command|Army Headquarters, India]] on 10 July 1940 and was appointed a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 1 January 1941.<ref>London Gazette 1 January 1941</ref> He became Deputy Adjutant General before becoming [[Adjutant-General (India)|Adjutant-General, India]] on 24 October 1941 with the acting rank of [[lieutenant general]]. He was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant general on 16 August 1942. Baker retired on 6 June 1944 and was appointed a [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]] on 8 June 1944.<ref>{{London Gazette|supp=y|issue=36544|page=2565|date=2 June 1944}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married Dorothy (''née'' Lace) in 1924, third daughter of botanist John Henry Lace {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CIE}} of the Imperial Forest Service. They had one son and one daughter. Baker died on 28 December 1964 in [[Devon]], England.<ref name="times"/>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}

==External links==
*[https://generals.dk/general/Baker/William_Henry_Goldney/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Brodie Haig]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Adjutant-General (India)|Adjutant-General, India]]|years=1941−1944}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ralph Bouverie Deedes|Sir Ralph Deedes]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, William}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]]
[[Category:Indian Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Bedford School]]
[[Category:People from Christchurch]]
[[Category:British Indian Army generals]]
[[Category:British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Afghan War]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Christchurch]]