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{{about|the Victoria Cross recipient and Pasha|other people|Charles Baker (disambiguation)}} | {{about|the Victoria Cross recipient and Pasha|other people|Charles Baker (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{Use British English|date=October | {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} | ||
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==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Charles George Baker was born in Noacolly ([[Noakhali]]), Bengal, British India on 8 December 1830<ref>{{cite journal|title=Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China and Australasia|date=1831|volume=5}}</ref> to John and Lydia Baker from [[Suffolk]]. John Baker was a Doctor in the [[East India Company]]'s Medical Service. The young Baker was sent to England to be educated, attending schools in [[Halesworth]] and [[Lowestoft]] in Suffolk.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raban|first1=Elizabeth|title=Connected to Christchurch - Christchurch History Society|url=http://www.historychristchurch.org/connected-to-christchurch/|website=www.historychristchurch.org|accessdate=31 May | Charles George Baker was born in Noacolly ([[Noakhali]]), Bengal, British India on 8 December 1830<ref>{{cite journal|title=Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and Foreign India, China and Australasia|date=1831|volume=5}}</ref> to John and Lydia Baker from [[Suffolk]]. John Baker was a Doctor in the [[East India Company]]'s Medical Service. The young Baker was sent to England to be educated, attending schools in [[Halesworth]] and [[Lowestoft]] in Suffolk.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Raban|first1=Elizabeth|title=Connected to Christchurch - Christchurch History Society|url=http://www.historychristchurch.org/connected-to-christchurch/|website=www.historychristchurch.org|accessdate=31 May 2016}}</ref> | ||
==Wreck of the Douro== | ==Wreck of the Douro== | ||
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While an employee of the [[Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company]] in 1854, Baker was serving as [[Second Officer (nautical)|Second Officer]] aboard the Douro, a passenger vessel. As the ship was sailing near the [[Paracel Islands]] it struck the north shoal and was wrecked. On 26 May, accompanied by seven volunteers, Baker took a [[Jolly boat]] and set out for [[Hainan]] which he estimated was {{Convert | 123 | mi}} away. According to the [[Logbook|log]] he kept, on arrival at the island of Hainan they were unable to locate signs of habitation, so the decision was made by him to head for [[Hong Kong]]. The first vessels they encountered on their journey turned out to be pirates who refused food, water, and other assistance unless the crew allowed themselves to be stripped of all valuables. The boat was able to escape, facing adverse weather conditions and taking on water. | While an employee of the [[Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company]] in 1854, Baker was serving as [[Second Officer (nautical)|Second Officer]] aboard the Douro, a passenger vessel. As the ship was sailing near the [[Paracel Islands]] it struck the north shoal and was wrecked. On 26 May, accompanied by seven volunteers, Baker took a [[Jolly boat]] and set out for [[Hainan]] which he estimated was {{Convert | 123 | mi}} away. According to the [[Logbook|log]] he kept, on arrival at the island of Hainan they were unable to locate signs of habitation, so the decision was made by him to head for [[Hong Kong]]. The first vessels they encountered on their journey turned out to be pirates who refused food, water, and other assistance unless the crew allowed themselves to be stripped of all valuables. The boat was able to escape, facing adverse weather conditions and taking on water. | ||
After a journey totalling over {{Convert | 500 | mi}}, the boat reached Hong Kong on the morning of 3 June. Baker reported the wreck, and was successful in securing rescue for the passengers and crew of the Douro, with the Steamships Malta, Tartar, and Pekin arriving at the site of the wreck on 5, 6 and 8 June respectively. The only loss of life from this incident was a member of the ship's crew who had fallen overboard.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1854|date=1854|publisher=Simpkin, Marshall & Co.|location=London|page=505}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=P&O Heritage - Ship Fact Sheet - Douro (1853)|url=http://www.poheritage.com/Content/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93068DOURO-1853pdf.pdf|website=P&O Heritage|accessdate=31 May 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625015503/http://www.poheritage.com/Content/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93068DOURO-1853pdf.pdf|archivedate=25 June | After a journey totalling over {{Convert | 500 | mi}}, the boat reached Hong Kong on the morning of 3 June. Baker reported the wreck, and was successful in securing rescue for the passengers and crew of the Douro, with the Steamships Malta, Tartar, and Pekin arriving at the site of the wreck on 5, 6 and 8 June respectively. The only loss of life from this incident was a member of the ship's crew who had fallen overboard.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Nautical Magazine and Naval Chronicle for 1854|date=1854|publisher=Simpkin, Marshall & Co.|location=London|page=505}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=P&O Heritage - Ship Fact Sheet - Douro (1853)|url=http://www.poheritage.com/Content/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93068DOURO-1853pdf.pdf|website=P&O Heritage|accessdate=31 May 2016|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625015503/http://www.poheritage.com/Content/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93068DOURO-1853pdf.pdf|archivedate=25 June 2016}}</ref> | ||
==Military service== | ==Military service== | ||
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===Victoria Cross=== | ===Victoria Cross=== | ||
He was 27 years old, and a [[lieutenant]] during September 1858 when the [[cavalry]] portion of the Bengal Military Police Battalion was assigned to the Field Force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William West Turner {{post-nominals|CB}}, then responsible for the security of the [[Grand Trunk Road]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.377|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/377|accessdate=29 May | He was 27 years old, and a [[lieutenant]] during September 1858 when the [[cavalry]] portion of the Bengal Military Police Battalion was assigned to the Field Force commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William West Turner {{post-nominals|CB}}, then responsible for the security of the [[Grand Trunk Road]].<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.377|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/377|accessdate=29 May 2016}}</ref> | ||
====Baker's report==== | ====Baker's report==== | ||
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====Further Information==== | ====Further Information==== | ||
Only one man under Lt. Baker's command was killed during this action and 17 wounded<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.380|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/380|accessdate=29 May | Only one man under Lt. Baker's command was killed during this action and 17 wounded<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.380|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/380|accessdate=29 May 2016}}</ref> including [[George Bell Chicken]], a civilian Master Mariner who was serving as a volunteer with the [[Naval Brigade]]. | ||
When the report of Lt. Baker's actions reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India ([[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|General Campbell]]) he directed his Adjutant-General to write the following to the Governor-General, [[Lord Canning]]: | When the report of Lt. Baker's actions reached the Commander-in-Chief of the Army in India ([[Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde|General Campbell]]) he directed his Adjutant-General to write the following to the Governor-General, [[Lord Canning]]: | ||
<blockquote>"I have the honour to request, on the part of his lordship, that you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right Honourable the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit performed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium, on account both of conception and execution. His lordship is of opinion that the Victoria Cross should be awarded to Lieutenant Baker, and to Mr. Chicken, of the Indian Navy, and he will take immediate measures for the execution of his intention in this respect."<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.377|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/377|accessdate=29 May | <blockquote>"I have the honour to request, on the part of his lordship, that you will have the goodness to direct the attention of the Right Honourable the Governor-General to the brilliancy of the exploit performed by Lieutenant G. C. Baker, of the Bengal Police Battalion, which is deserving of the highest encomium, on account both of conception and execution. His lordship is of opinion that the Victoria Cross should be awarded to Lieutenant Baker, and to Mr. Chicken, of the Indian Navy, and he will take immediate measures for the execution of his intention in this respect."<ref>{{cite web|title=The London Gazette, Issue 22224 p.377|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22224/page/377|accessdate=29 May 2016}}</ref> | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||