Wilfred Baker (veteran)
Encyclopedia
Wilfred J. Baker was a British
First World War
-era veteran and veteran of the Second World War
. At the time of his death he was the second-oldest man in Scotland
.
Baker was born in England
. He joined the Royal Navy
in December 1918, just after the Armistice
. He also served in the Second World War, retiring as a lieutenant commander
in 1948, after which he worked at a miners' hostel in Dalkeith
.
His wife May died in 1983, aged 87, shortly after their 60th wedding anniversary.
Baker died in Newlands Care Home in Dunfermline
, Fife
, aged 106. He was just one day younger than Scotland's oldest man, Bob Taggart
. At the time of his death, he had four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
-era veteran and veteran of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. At the time of his death he was the second-oldest man in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
Baker was born 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...
. He joined the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in December 1918, just after the Armistice
Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)
The armistice between the Allies and Germany was an agreement that ended the fighting in the First World War. It was signed in a railway carriage in Compiègne Forest on 11 November 1918 and marked a victory for the Allies and a complete defeat for Germany, although not technically a surrender...
. He also served in the Second World War, retiring as a lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
in 1948, after which he worked at a miners' hostel in Dalkeith
Dalkeith
Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540...
.
His wife May died in 1983, aged 87, shortly after their 60th wedding anniversary.
Baker died in Newlands Care Home in Dunfermline
Dunfermline
Dunfermline is a town and former Royal Burgh in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. According to a 2008 estimate, Dunfermline has a population of 46,430, making it the second-biggest settlement in Fife. Part of the town's name comes from the Gaelic word...
, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, aged 106. He was just one day younger than Scotland's oldest man, Bob Taggart
Bob Taggart
Robert "Bob" Taggart was a British centenarian who was the second-oldest man in the United Kingdom , and the oldest man in Scotland, at the time of his death...
. At the time of his death, he had four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
External links
- Scotsman.com - news report
- World War veteran dies aged 106, BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
, 6 March 2007 - 106th birthday report