Captain Clare Valentine BAKER
67th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery

Date of birth: 23rd November 1885
Date of death: 7th December 1947

Died aged 62
Unknown
Clare Valentine Baker was born at 7 Beaumont Street, Marylebone in London on the 23rd of November 1885 the eldest son of Harry Valentine Baker, a stockbroker, and Katherine Frances (nee Read) Baker of Broome Cottage, Betchworth in Surrey. He was christened at Brompton on the 5th of May 1887.

of the Football XI in 1896, 1897 and 1898, and was a member of the Cricket XI in 1897 and 1898. The school magazine described his 1896 football season: - "Fast and of good heart, tackles well and showed excellent form at right half back."

They wrote of his 1897 football season: - "Hardly fulfilled the promise he gave last year, but is still a very valuable half back (right), heads well and kicks an excellent corner. Is a little inclined to leave the enemy's forward unmarked, and to get drawn into the centre."

They wrote of his 1898 football season: - "Right and half back, has not materially improved upon his last year's form, always good with his head, and full of pluck."

Of his 1897 cricket season they wrote: - "Smart and fairly safe in the field. May make a bat if he will leave off kneeling down."

They wrote the following on his 1898 cricket season: - "Did not come on as we expected, hits from the ground upwards and his bat is of the crookedest. A fine field and catch, but indifferent thrower."

He went on to Harrow School where he was in Mr. B. Smith’s House from April 1899 to July 1905. He played Racquets for the school in 1905 and was a member of the Football XI from 1903 and of the Cricket XI in 1905. He served for three years as a member of the Officer Training Corps.

He also played occasional county cricket for Middlesex between 1906 and 1912 and was a playing member of the MCC for the same period. During his first class career he scored 726 runs at an average of 13.69. He reached the semi finals of the Amateur Racquets Doubles Championship in 1907.

He was married at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square to Sybil (nee Barrington-Foote) on the 25th of January 1912, the bride’s uncle the Bishop of Peterborough presiding. They honeymooned in the South of France, and lived at "The Elms" at Betchworth. They had three daughters, Joan Mary Doligny, born on the 11th of December 1914 and twins, Dulcie M. and Ruth F., born in 1916. He served as a Scoutmaster at Betchworth.

He applied for a commission on the 27th of May 1915 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the Royal Garrison Artillery (Special Reserve) on the 19th of June 1915. He served with the Portsmouth Garrison from the 11th of August 1915 to the 13th of July 1916 and on the 15th of July 1916 he was declared as suitable to have his rank confirmed and made permanent.

On the 19th of February 1918 a medical report was written at the Reception Hospital, Portsmouth on a winter cough which dated back to his Harrow days in 1905: -

"He states that he has been liable to some recurrence of winter cough for several years. He has always been of an athletic disposition."

He was marked as fit for general service but it was suggested that he be posted for service in a warm climate. He was promoted to Acting Captain from the 29th of December 1918 to the 5th of January 1919 and was demobilised on the 19th of February 1919, resigning his commission on the 1st of April 1920.

After the war he became a member of the London Stock Exchange, trading with his father's firm of Baker and Hardcastle. He later divorced and returned home to live with his parents.

On the outbreak of the Second World War he served as an ARP Warden until the 16th of December 1939 when he was accepted for enrolment in the Officers Emergency Reserve and was to be timed out through age in November 1945.

He died at Broome Park, Betchworth in Surrey.
Went on to Harrow School

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