Robert Samuel Baker

Story:
Robert Samuel Baker was born in Semley, Wiltshire, on 24 Aug 1898 and baptised there on 18 Sep 1898 the son of Robert Baker and Emily Baker (nee Sharp).  He lived much of his life in Semley including, at one time, Westwood Farm.   He enlisted in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 1 Jan 1916 and joined the Territorial Unit of the Dorset (Queen's Own) Yeomanry as a Private (Service No. 1778).  He served in Egypt from 17 Jun 1916 and was transferred to the 17th Squadron of the Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry) on 17 Mar 1917 (Service No. 96200).  He was discharged on 19 Mar 1919 and awarded the Victory and British War Medals.  The 1921 Census shows him still living at Westwood Farm, Semley, with his widowed mother (his father having died in 1920). He was managing the farm on his mother's behalf. By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at Littledown, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Postman and still single.  His death was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry, in 1971.