224974 Sgt. Edward Gordon Baker Royal Air Force 115 Squadron from:Dartford, Kent (d.26th Jun 1943) My cousin Edward Baker was born in the March quarter of 1917 the youngest son of Henry Edward and Beatrice Alice Baker formerly Buttell. He had an older brother John William born September quarter 1911 and a sister Phyllis Beatrice born 23 December 1912 their home was at 28, Woodland Terrace, Charlton, London, England UK.
As a young man at the age of 19 he joined Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve (RAFVR) formed in 1936 to augment the Royal Auxiliary Air Force which had been formed in 1925 by the local Territorial Associations they were mainly comprised of civilians recruited from the neighbourhoods of Reserve Flying Schools run by civilian contractors who largely employed as instructors members of the Reserve of Air Force Officers.
When war broke out in 1939 the members of the RAFVR became the principal source of recruits to Bomber Command by the end of 1941 more than half the aircrew for the command were members of the RAFVR.
I know very little about my cousin other than he looked very young in his uniform when as a young boy of five years I met him at our grandma’s house. I am trying to piece together his life story. As yet, I do not know how many missions he flew and the little I have learnt has come from the Commonwealth Graves Website. So I am still searching. Edward married Frances Mary Goss in the District of Dartford, Kent, in the June quarter of 1941.
He was stationed with 115 Squadron at RAF East Wretham, Norfolk, during 1943. Late on the night of Friday 25th June Bomber Lancaster II DS633 KO-C took off one of 30 aircraft that taking part in Gardening Operations (Mine laying) off the Frisians and off the French coast with the following aircrew members: -
- Parry, Frederick, Flying Officer, 131560
- Baker, Edward Gordon Sergeant Age 26 1177976
- lover Patrick Edward [Paddy] Sergeant Age 20 1321791
- McGowan William McIlwee Sergeant Age 21 1551754
- Price Leslie Frederick Sergeant No Age 1454385
- Richardson Eric Ryder Sergeant Age 20 1387194
- hitehead Frederick Alan Sergeant Age 21 1317727
During the course of this mission his plane went missing presumed shot down over France and he was subsequently reported as being dead on Saturday 26th of June 1943 and later we learnt was buried at Nantes (Pont-Du-Cens) Communal Cemetery, Loire-Atlantique, France with his other crew members.
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