Pte 53087 Laurence Herbert Baker

• Age: 24
• From: Rayleigh, Essex
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 20th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Railway Dugout B.g. Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: Sp.Mem.F7

Laurence Herbert Baker was born in the June quarter of 1893 in Rayleigh, Essex.  His parents Herbert Baker and Elizabeth Duncombe married in 1893 in Rochford, Essex.  They were both from Essex, his father born in Rayleigh, and his mother in Chadwell Heath.  They had eight children;  Laurence was the eldest; his siblings were Ethel, William, Annie, Alice, Elsie, John and Mabel.

In 1901 the family, with five children, is living in High Street, Rayleigh, Essex. His father Herbert is a carpenter, on his own account. Laurence is aged 7. 

They are still in High Street in 1911, now with eight children.  His father is a carpenter and joiner; Lawrence is 17, a labourer. 

Unfortunately, his service record has not survived, but it is known that Laurence enlisted in Warley, Essex. He was serving in the 18^th Bn King’s (Liverpool) Regiment in June 1917, when the battalion was in the Dickebusch area of the Ypres salient. 

On 20^th June 1917 Pte Laurence Herbert Baker was killed in action, at the age of 24. 

He now rests at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Flanders, where his headstone advises that he is  known to be buried in the cemetery. His headstone inscription reads,

“THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT”.

This phrase was decided upon by Rudyard Kipling and is used when the burial place of a soldier is not known. It is a biblical reference from Ecclesiasticus 44:13 which reads in full as: "Their seed shall remain forever, and their glory shall not be blotted out".   

Laurence's death was announced in the Chelmsford Chronicle on 29^th June 1917: 

“Pte Laurence H. Baker, King’s (Liverpool) Regt., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Baker of High Road, Rayleigh, was killed in France.” 

His effects and pension went to his mother Elizabeth.

Laurence Herbert Baker is commemorated in the Holy Trinity Church, Rayleigh, Essex.