Plymouthhistory
● Plymouth in the great war As we approach the centenary of the First World War, we take a look at how “The War to End All Wars” affected Plymouth and Plymothians. In this issue we feature Plymouth Argyle player, Sgt William James Baker. Footballer on the Somme: The story of Billy Baker, professional footballer & true hero William James Baker (pictured) was born in Plymouth in the last quarter of 1882, the fourth child to Joseph and Fanny (nee Moaxley). Joseph had been in the candle making industry for most of his working life and in all likelihood worked at the New Patent Candle Co.Ltd in Sutton Road. It would appear that the family lived a fairly ordinary life for the age they were living, although not without tragedy; of the eleven children of Joseph and Fanny, only seven lived to see 1911. By 1901, an 18 year old William had been apprenticed to a plasterer, and it was around this time that his career as a footballer began as he played for local Plymouth side Green Waves. His skill was soon recognised and it was not long before he had represented both the Devon and Cornwall Football Associations at County level. He had also signed up and completed two years service in the Army with the Devon Regiment. But his prowess as a footballer was growing; he resigned from the Army in 1904 and it's possible that it was at around this time he left Plymouth, first for the United States and then South Africa where he played for De Beers Football Club in Cape Town. By 1909 William was back in Plymouth and playing for Green Waves, where his potential was spotted by Plymouth Argyle. He made his debut in the 2-0 home defeat against Queens Park Rangers on 18 September 1909. A wing half, renowned for his “love of the strenuous game, but clean withal and never tiring”, William went on to make over 200 appearances for Argyle scoring his only league goal in the 2-1 home defeat to Bristol Rovers in October 1910. Life was going well for William, his career was going from strength to strength and it was on 7 October 1912 he married local girl Olive Blanche Weir. As if to underline this, on 13 April 1913 a baby daughter, Phyllis Olive arrived. However the dark clouds of war were soon gathering on the horizon. And, so it was, like hundreds of thousands of young men in towns and villages throughout the country had done before and would continue to do, on 18 January 1915 William presented himself at the Kingsway Recruiting Office, London. As he did so, he could not have known that his wife was in the early stages of pregnancy. His service papers describe him on enlistment as aged 32 years and 2 months, being 5 ft 5 1/4 ins in height and weighing 154 lb (11 stone). He formally attested to the Middlesex Regiment – the famous 17 th Battalion (or 1 st Football as it came to be known) – as “F521 Private Baker W.J” on the 28 January 1915, signing up for the duration of the war. In these early days of the war, he still played for Argyle, and his final appearance came in the away match at Southend United on 1 May 1915, after which he left for his Army service. On 17 August, another daughter, Rita Beatrice was born and one can only hope between then and 16 November, when he left with his regiment for the killing fields of France and Flanders, that he managed to spend at least some time with his young family.
The Argyle handbook of this year described William as “"possessed of inexhaustible energy and indomitable pluck” and these qualities were soon recognised by the British Army as he was quickly promoted, first to Lance Corporal then to full Corporal in February 1916. During July 1916, William suffered a sprained ankle while performing fatigue duties in the trenches (non military work such as digging etc. Whether this was as a punishment is not made clear.). The injury would not, his commanding officer remarked drily, interfere with his efficiency as a soldier. That efficiency was perfectly illustrated when the London Gazette of 10 August 1916 carried notice that William had been awarded the Military Medal for “bravery in the field”, and British soldiers on the Somme furthermore he had been promoted to Sergeant. Those early days of the Battle of the Somme had been nothing short of a disaster for the British Army, with unprecedented casualties killed and wounded – around 60000 on the first day (1 July) alone. Just a few short months later, on 22 October 1916 at Serre, the name William James Baker M.M was added to that long list when he was killed in action during the British attempts to drive the German forces from the heavily fortified town. He is buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, France (grave ref: I.I. 26). William was 33 years old, and his wife, who never remarried was awarded a pension of 25s & 5d per week (approx. £55 in today's money) Commonwealth War Graves at Sucrerie Unfortunately for the Baker family, there was more tragedy to come. On 23 December 1917, William's younger brother (by now Petty Officer Stoker) Alfred Stanley Baker was on board Royal Navy destroyer HMS Tornado, when she came to the aid of three other destroyers hit by mines - HMS Valkyrie, Torrent and Surprise - at the Maas Light Buoy, off the coast of Holland. Tornado herself then struck a mine and sank quickly after breaking in two. In all, over 250 men were lost in this single incident, among them Alfred, who was 33 years old. Sadly, his body was never recovered. Coincidentally, Alfred also represented Plymouth Argyle although, as an amateur/ reserve, it seems he never made a 1 st team appearance. After the war in 1920, a wreath was placed on the Cenotaph in London to commemorate those Argyle players who gave their lives. The wreath was tied with the ribbons of green and black, the favours of Plymouth Argyle. Club captain, Septimus Atterbury, laid the floral tribute, which held the following inscription: “From the directors, players and officials of Plymouth Argyle Football Club in respectful memory of the late Sergeant W J Baker DCM (sic), Petty Officer Alfred S Baker RN, Sergeant William Sutherland, Sergeant Norman A Wood and Private Stanley Reed, players of the club, who gave their lives in the Great War.” Sources & acknowledgements: “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM” Greens On Screen (www.greensonscreen.co.uk) Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org) Plymouth Argyle Football Club Many thanks to the following: Steve Dean & Colin Parsons and all at Greens on Screen – a fantastic and unique website for all things “Plymouth Argyle” Rick Cowdery & PAFC for kind permission to reproduce the picture of William James “Billy” Baker
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The Argyle handbook of this year described William as “"possessed of inexhaustible energy and<br />
indomitable pluck” and these qualities were soon recognised by the British Army as he was quickly<br />
promoted, first to Lance Corporal then to full Corporal in February 1916.<br />
During July 1916, William suffered a sprained<br />
ankle while performing fatigue duties in the<br />
trenches (non military work such as digging etc.<br />
Whether this was as a punishment is not made<br />
clear.). The injury would not, his commanding<br />
officer remarked drily, interfere with his<br />
efficiency as a soldier.<br />
That efficiency was perfectly illustrated when<br />
the London Gazette of 10 August 1916 carried<br />
notice that William had been awarded the<br />
Military Medal for “bravery in the field”, and<br />
British soldiers on the Somme<br />
furthermore he had been promoted to Sergeant.<br />
Those early days of the Battle of the Somme had been nothing short of a disaster for the British<br />
Army, with unprecedented casualties killed and wounded – around 60000 on the first day (1 July)<br />
alone. Just a few short months later, on 22 October 1916 at Serre, the name William James Baker<br />
M.M was added to that long list when he was killed in action during the British attempts to drive the<br />
German forces from the heavily fortified town. He is buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery,<br />
Colincamps, France (grave ref: I.I. 26). William was 33 years old, and his wife, who never<br />
remarried was awarded a pension of 25s & 5d per week (approx. £55 in today's money)<br />
Commonwealth War Graves at<br />
Sucrerie<br />
Unfortunately for the Baker family, there was more tragedy to come. On<br />
23 December 1917, William's younger brother (by now Petty Officer<br />
Stoker) Alfred Stanley Baker was on board Royal Navy destroyer HMS<br />
Tornado, when she came to the aid of three other destroyers hit by<br />
mines - HMS Valkyrie, Torrent and Surprise - at the Maas Light Buoy, off<br />
the coast of Holland. Tornado herself then struck a mine and sank<br />
quickly after breaking in two. In all, over 250 men were lost in this single<br />
incident, among them Alfred, who was 33 years old. Sadly, his body was<br />
never recovered. Coincidentally, Alfred also represented Plymouth<br />
Argyle although, as an amateur/ reserve, it seems he never made a 1 st<br />
team appearance.<br />
After the war in 1920, a wreath was placed on the Cenotaph in London to commemorate those<br />
Argyle players who gave their lives. The wreath was tied with the ribbons of green and black, the<br />
favours of Plymouth Argyle. Club captain, Septimus Atterbury, laid the floral tribute, which held the<br />
following inscription:<br />
“From the directors, players and officials of Plymouth Argyle Football Club in respectful memory of<br />
the late Sergeant W J Baker DCM (sic), Petty Officer Alfred S Baker RN, Sergeant William<br />
Sutherland, Sergeant Norman A Wood and Private Stanley Reed, players of the club, who gave<br />
their lives in the Great War.”<br />
Sources & acknowledgements:<br />
“WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”<br />
Greens On Screen (www.greensonscreen.co.uk)<br />
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (www.cwgc.org)<br />
Plymouth Argyle Football Club<br />
Many thanks to the following:<br />
Steve Dean & Colin Parsons and all at Greens on Screen – a fantastic and unique website for all things<br />
“Plymouth Argyle”<br />
Rick Cowdery & PAFC for kind permission to reproduce the picture of William James “Billy” Baker
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