Description
Territorial Force War Medal, 57 Sergeant Walter Jabez Baker, 1/9th Cyclist Battalion Hampshire Regiment, served in India and Russia during the Civil War 1918-19.
Officially impressed: “57 Sjt W.J. Baker. Hamps R.”
Confirmed on the medal roll and MIC.
Also earned a matching BWM & Victory Pair as well as the Territorial Efficiency Medal in 1921 for his long service.
Military Service:
Walter was a pre-war member of the “Territorial Force” who were mobilised for service in August 1914.
Originally a “Cyclist” battalion they were converted over form Bicycles to Infantry in November 1915, originally the brigade was destined for East Africa, but instead were posted over from Devonport to India on 4th February 1916.
Having spent most of the war in India, they would then see an unusual posting, being sent over to Vladivostok arriving there on 28th November 1918 in support of the Russians “White Army”.
An interesting brief article from the website of the Royal Hampshire Regiment on their service in Siberia can be read below:
They served in the “Siberian Expedition”, part of the Russian Civil War, as one of the 1,800 British Army troops deployed to Siberia in 2 Battalions.
These men came from the 1/9th Cyclist Bn Hampshires coming over from India and the 25th Bn Middlesex Regiment, sent over from Iraq.
Having spent the winter of 1918 in Omsk, after 5 months the battalion was moved to Ekaterinburg in the Urals, where they formed the Anglo-Russian Brigade made up of Russian “Peasants” under British command.
The regiment was withdrawn from Ekaterinburg in August 1919, going over to Vladivostok to return back home.
At the end of his service he was disembodied on 5th December 1919, the same day the regiment arrived back in the dock at Southampton.
During his time stationed in India, he became a Freemason, joining the Northern Star Lodge whilst serving as a Sergeant on 5th December 1917.
Walter Jabez Baker was born on 4th August 1885 in Woking Station, Surrey.
He married in Bournemouth, Hampshire to Annie Kate Clark on 27th December 1909.
In peace time he was a local Confectioner and Cake Maker.
He died in Torquay, on 24th May 1942.
