Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Sir William Henry Goldney Baker (7 December 1888 – 28 December 1964) was a British officer who served in the

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

. 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 To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

three times and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In 1918 he fought the

Marris Marris is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Charles Allan Marris (1876–1947), New Zealand journalist and editor * Emma Marris (born 1979), American non-fiction writer * Georgia Marris (born 1996), New Zealand swimmer *Rob Marri ...

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 The 5th Horse is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by the amalgamation of the 11th ...

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, Baker was educated at

Christ's College, Christchurch Christ's College, Canterbury is an independent Anglican secondary day and boarding school for boys, located in the city centre of Christchurch, New Zealand. Founded in 1850 by Reverend Henry Jacobs in Lyttelton as a school for early settlers, ...

and, in England, at

Bedford School :''Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Girls' School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Old Bedford School in Bedford, Texas or Bedford Academy in Bedford, Nova Scotia.'' Bedford School is a public school (English indep ...

, and then attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he passed out first in his class. He was commissioned to the unattached List of the Indian Army on 20 January 1909 and posted to the 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers on 29 March 1910 and was promoted to lieutenant on 20 April 1911. Baker saw service in World War I. He was deployed to France on 13 March 1915Indian Army List war services volume 1941 and became attached to the 34th Poona Horse on 31 May 1915. Promoted to temporary

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the Cheshire Regiment on 21 September 1915 and to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

in that regiment on 15 May 1916,Quarterly Army List March 1922 he was promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 1 September 1915. 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 and awarded the DSO. He was also

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

three times. He was promoted to brevet major on 1 January 1918 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 Marris between 18 February to 8 April 1918.

Between the wars

Baker took part in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919 and was mentioned in despatches. Later in 1919 he was appointed an Instructor at the Cavalry School at Saugor before attending the Staff College, Quetta from 1921 to 1922. He became a

General Staff Officer Grade 2 A general officer is an officer of high rank in the armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers to a rank above colonel."general, adj. and n.". OE ...

(GSO2), on the General Staff at Southern Command on 24 August 1922 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 the General Staff in Australia. 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. He became a General Staff Officer 2nd grade at the Directorate of Staff Duties on 1 November 1929 and was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1930. He transferred to

on 30 July 1933 as second in commandIndian Army List April 1934 and attended the Senior Officers Course at

Sheerness Sheerness () is a town and civil parish beside the mouth of the River Medway on the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 11,938, it is the second largest town on the island after the nearby town ...

in 1934. Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 20 January 1935, he attended a course at the Imperial Defence College in 1936. He became

commanding officer The commanding officer (CO) or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitu ...

(CO) of Probyn's Horse on 1 November 1935 and took part in operations in Waziristan in 1936 and 1937. Baker was promoted to local temporary brigadier and given temporary command of the Kohat Brigade on 20 May 1936. He then reverted to local temporary colonel and was given temporary command of the Tochi column on 10 December 1936. He was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

on 10 December 1937 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. Promoted to colonel on 15 January 1938 with seniority from 1 July 1934, he became Commander (as temporary brigadier) of the Delhi Brigade Area on 15 January 1938.

World War II

Baker also saw service in World War II. He was appointed aide-de-camp to

the King In the British English-speaking world, The King refers to: * Charles III (born 1948), King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms since 2022 As a nickname * Michael Jackson (1958–2009), American singer and pop icon, nicknamed "T ...

on 1 April 1940, promoted to acting 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 Army Headquarters, India on 10 July 1940 and was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

on 1 January 1941. He became Deputy Adjutant General before becoming 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.

Personal life

He married Dorothy (''née'' Lace) in 1924, third daughter of botanist John Henry Lace of the Imperial Forest Service. They had one son and one daughter. Baker died on 28 December 1964 in Devon, England.

References

Bibliography

External links

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