Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Able Seaman W. Baker, Royal Navy, who was captured at Kut, 29 April 1916 and who died as a prisoner-of-war of the Turks, 27 August 1916

1914-15 Star (189328 A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (189328 A.B., R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Walter Baker) extremely fine (4) £200-260

Walter Baker was born in Hale, Surrey on 25 June 1878. A Labourer by occupation, he enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 8 July 1896, being advanced to Boy 1st Class in October 1896. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in October 1896 when on Curacoa and to Able Seaman in January 1899 when on Venus. When serving on Eclipse on 3 February 1906, he jumped overboard to the assistance of Able Seaman William A. Kingham, R.N. He was not able to save Kingham from drowning but his gallantry was commended by a subsequent Court of Enquiry. Able Seaman Baker was discharged as time expired on 3 July 1908 and joined the Portsmouth R.F.R. He was recalled to the Service on 2 August 1914. He served on Edgar, August-December 1914; Victory I, December 1914-March 1915; and then on Clio, April-November 1915. In September 1915, whilst serving on Clio in the Persian Gulf, he was wounded in action. Able Seaman Baker was captured by the Turks at Kut on 29 April 1916. As a prisoner-of-war he died of malaria on 27 August 1916.

With copied service paper. Medals mounted in a scuffed 26 x 26cm. glazed frame which also contains a photograph of Baker. The Memorial Plaque is contained in a separate similar sized frame.