Euston Baker

Brigadier Euston Edward Francis Baker CB CBE DSO MC* TD DL JP (5 April 1895 – 17 January 1981) was a British Army officer of both world wars.

Euston Baker
Born	(1895-04-05)5 April 1895 Fulham, London, England
Died	17 January 1981(1981-01-17) (aged 85)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1914–1945
Rank	Brigadier
Service number	23973
Unit	Middlesex Regiment London Regiment
Commands held	2nd Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment 7th (City of London) Battalion, London Regiment 35th Infantry Brigade 213th Independent Infantry Brigade
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross and Bar Efficiency Decoration Mentioned in despatches (3)

Baker was born in Fulham, London. He commissioned into the 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on 15 August 1914 and saw active service in the First World War. During the war he was mentioned in dispatches three times, and was twice awarded the Military Cross - in 1917 and 1918. In February 1919 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in the Battle of the Scarpe (1918).[1]

In February 1923 Baker was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took command of the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. In 1931 he became Commanding Officer of the 7th Battalion, City of London Regiment, before retaking command of the 8th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from 1936 to 1937. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 23 June 1936 and in 1938 became a Deputy Lieutenant for Middlesex.[2] Following the outbreak of the Second World War he became Commanding Officer of the 35th Infantry Brigade, serving in the position until April 1940. From October 1940 to July 1942 Baker was commander of the 213th Independent Infantry Brigade. He retired from the regular army due to ill health in March 1945 with the rank of brigadier.[3]

Between June 1941 and June 1951, Baker was an Additional Aide-de-Camp to George VI, and was Honorary Colonel of the 5th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from 1942 to 1963. In October 1947 Baker became Honorary Colonel of 11th Parachute Battalion (Middlesex). He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1957.[4]

References

1. 'Baker, Euston Edward Francis' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 5 July 2015
2. 'Baker, Euston Edward Francis' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 5 July 2015
3. 'Baker, Euston Edward Francis' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 5 July 2015
4. "No. 40960". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1957. p. 3.

External links

• British Army Officers 1939−1945
• Generals of World War II