Valentine Baker
Encyclopedia
Valentine Baker (1827 – 1887), British soldier, was a younger brother of Sir Samuel Baker.
and in Ceylon, and in 1848 entered the Ceylon Rifles as an ensign. Soon transferred to the 12th Lancers, he saw active service with that regiment in the 8th Cape Frontier War
of 1852—1853. In the Crimean War
Baker was present at the Battle of Chernaya River
and at the fall of Sevastopol
, and in 1859 he became major in the 10th Hussars, succeeding only a year later to the command. This position he held for thirteen years, during which period the highest efficiency of his men was reached, and outside the regiment he did good service to his arm by his writings.
He went through the wars of 1866 and 1870 as a spectator with the German armies, and in 1873 he started upon a famous journey through Khorasan
. Though he was unable to reach the Khanate of Khiva
the results of the journey afforded a great deal of political, geographical and military information, especially as to the advance of Russia
in central Asia
. In 1874 he was back in England
and took up a staff appointment at Aldershot
. Less than a year later Colonel Baker’s career in the British army came to an untimely end. He was arrested on a charge of indecent assault upon a young woman in a railway carriage. He offered no defense, and was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment and a fine. He was then dismissed from service.
Two years later, having meanwhile left England
, he entered the service of the Ottoman Army in the war with Russia. At first in a high position in the gendarmerie
, he was soon transferred to Mehmed Ali Pasha’s staff, and thence took over the command of a division of infantry. With this division Baker sustained the rearguard action of Tashkessen
against the troops of Gourko. Promoted Ferik
(lieutenant-general) for this feat, he continued to command Suleiman’s rearguard. After the peace he was employed in an administrative post in Armenia
, where he remained until 1882. In this year he was offered the command of the newly formed Egyptian army, which he accepted. On his arrival at Cairo
, however, the offer was withdrawn and he only obtained the command of the Egyptian police. In this post he devoted by far the greater amount of his energy to the training of the gendarmerie, which he realized would be the reserve of the purely military forces.
When the war in Sudan
broke out, Baker, hastening with 3500 men to relieve Tokar
, encountered the enemy under Osman Digna
at El Teb
. His men became panic-stricken at the first rush and were slaughtered. Baker himself with a few of his officers succeeded by hard fighting in cutting a way out, but his force was annihilated. British troops soon afterwards arrived at Suakin
, and Sir Gerald Graham
took the offensive. Baker Pasha accompanied the British force, and guided it in its march to the scene of his defeat, and at the desperately fought second battle of El Teb
he was wounded (See: Battles of El Teb
). He remained in command of the Egyptian police until his death in 1887. Amongst his works may be mentioned Our National Defences (1860), War in Bulgaria, a Narrative of Personal Experience (London
, 1879), Clouds in the East (London
, 1876).
Elements of the events that led to Baker's imprisonment and cashiering from the British Army are suggested by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
in his Sherlock Holmes
's short story The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
.
Biography
He was educated in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and in Ceylon, and in 1848 entered the Ceylon Rifles as an ensign. Soon transferred to the 12th Lancers, he saw active service with that regiment in the 8th Cape Frontier War
Xhosa wars
The Xhosa Wars, also known as the Cape Frontier Wars, were a series of nine wars between the Xhosa people and European settlers, from 1779 to 1879 in what is now the Eastern Cape in South Africa....
of 1852—1853. In the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
Baker was present at the Battle of Chernaya River
Battle of Chernaya River
The Battle of the Chernaya was a battle by the Chernaya River fought during the Crimean War on August 16, 1855. The battle was fought between Russian troops and a coalition of French, Sardinian and Ottoman troops. The Chernaya River is on the outskirts of Sevastopol...
and at the fall of Sevastopol
Sevastopol
Sevastopol is a city on rights of administrative division of Ukraine, located on the Black Sea coast of the Crimea peninsula. It has a population of 342,451 . Sevastopol is the second largest port in Ukraine, after the Port of Odessa....
, and in 1859 he became major in the 10th Hussars, succeeding only a year later to the command. This position he held for thirteen years, during which period the highest efficiency of his men was reached, and outside the regiment he did good service to his arm by his writings.
He went through the wars of 1866 and 1870 as a spectator with the German armies, and in 1873 he started upon a famous journey through Khorasan
Greater Khorasan
Greater Khorasan or Ancient Khorasan is a historical region of Greater Iran mentioned in sources from Sassanid and Islamic eras which "frequently" had a denotation wider than current three provinces of Khorasan in Iran...
. Though he was unable to reach the Khanate of Khiva
Khanate of Khiva
The Khanate of Khiva was the name of a Uzbek state that existed in the historical region of Khwarezm from 1511 to 1920, except for a period of Persian occupation by Nadir Shah between 1740–1746. It was the patrilineal descendants of Shayban , the fifth son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan...
the results of the journey afforded a great deal of political, geographical and military information, especially as to the advance of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
in central Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. In 1874 he was back in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and took up a staff appointment at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
. Less than a year later Colonel Baker’s career in the British army came to an untimely end. He was arrested on a charge of indecent assault upon a young woman in a railway carriage. He offered no defense, and was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment and a fine. He was then dismissed from service.
Two years later, having meanwhile left England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he entered the service of the Ottoman Army in the war with Russia. At first in a high position in the gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
, he was soon transferred to Mehmed Ali Pasha’s staff, and thence took over the command of a division of infantry. With this division Baker sustained the rearguard action of Tashkessen
Battle of Tashkessen
The Battle of Tashkessen was a battle of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. It was fought between the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire on December 28, 1877. The battle occurred after Shakir Pasha's retirement and near Taşkesen...
against the troops of Gourko. Promoted Ferik
Ferik (rank)
Ferik was a military rank of the Ottoman Army. It is translated as Major General or Lieutenant General . It was superior to a Mirliva and junior to a Birinci Ferik .The title of Ferik was abolished with Act No...
(lieutenant-general) for this feat, he continued to command Suleiman’s rearguard. After the peace he was employed in an administrative post in Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, where he remained until 1882. In this year he was offered the command of the newly formed Egyptian army, which he accepted. On his arrival at Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, however, the offer was withdrawn and he only obtained the command of the Egyptian police. In this post he devoted by far the greater amount of his energy to the training of the gendarmerie, which he realized would be the reserve of the purely military forces.
When the war in Sudan
History of Sudan (1884-1898)
Developments in Sudan during the late 19th century cannot be understood without reference to the British position in Egypt. In 1869, the Suez Canal opened and quickly became Britain's economic lifeline to India and the Far East. To defend this waterway, Britain sought a greater role in Egyptian...
broke out, Baker, hastening with 3500 men to relieve Tokar
Tokar, Sudan
Tokar , also transliterated Tawkar, is a small town of 1000-2000 people near the Red Sea in northeastern Sudan. Tokar Game Reserve lies to the east of the town....
, encountered the enemy under Osman Digna
Osman Digna
Osman Digna was a follower of the Mahdi in Sudan, and hailed from the Hadendoa tribe of the Beja people. His birthplace is unknown; Suakin was said to be the town where he was born. When he was called Osman Ali, Osman Digna lived in Alexandria, Egypt, where he dealt in the selling of slaves...
at El Teb
El Teb
El Teb, a halting-place in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan near the coast of the Red Sea, 9 m. southwest of the port of Trinkitat on the road to Tokar. At El Teb, on 4 February 1884, a heterogeneous force under General Valentine Baker, marching to the relief of the Egyptian garrison of Tokar, was...
. His men became panic-stricken at the first rush and were slaughtered. Baker himself with a few of his officers succeeded by hard fighting in cutting a way out, but his force was annihilated. British troops soon afterwards arrived at Suakin
Suakin
Suakin or Sawakin is a port in north-eastern Sudan, on the west coast of the Red Sea. In 1983 it had a population of 18,030 and the 2009 estimate is 43, 337.It was formerly the region's chief port, but is now secondary to Port Sudan, about 30 miles north. The old city built of coral is in ruins...
, and Sir Gerald Graham
Gerald Graham
Lieutenant General Sir Gerald Graham, VC GCB GCMG was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Early life:He was born in Acton, Middlesex, and after studying at...
took the offensive. Baker Pasha accompanied the British force, and guided it in its march to the scene of his defeat, and at the desperately fought second battle of El Teb
El Teb
El Teb, a halting-place in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan near the coast of the Red Sea, 9 m. southwest of the port of Trinkitat on the road to Tokar. At El Teb, on 4 February 1884, a heterogeneous force under General Valentine Baker, marching to the relief of the Egyptian garrison of Tokar, was...
he was wounded (See: Battles of El Teb
Battles of El Teb
The Battles of El Teb took place during the British Sudan Campaign where a force of Sudanese under Osman Digna won a victory over an 3500 strong Egyptian force under the command of General Valentine Baker which was marching to relieve Tokar on the 4th...
). He remained in command of the Egyptian police until his death in 1887. Amongst his works may be mentioned Our National Defences (1860), War in Bulgaria, a Narrative of Personal Experience (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1879), Clouds in the East (London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, 1876).
Elements of the events that led to Baker's imprisonment and cashiering from the British Army are suggested by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
in his Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
's short story The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans
"The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans" is one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It is one of eight stories in the cycle collected as His Last Bow...
.
Further reading
- Dorothy Anderson Baker Pasha: Misconduct and Mischance Michael Russell Publishing Ltd (May 1999) ISBN 0859552462 ISBN 978-0859552462