Canadian Soldier

Lt.-Col. Baker was born into a family with a long history of service to Canada: his father had served in the Provincial Legislature or the Dominion Parliament for over forty years. Colonel Baker, a man of many interests, undertook law at McGill University and was called to the Bar in 1900. After a successful career, which included a stint as a member of Parliament, his military career started in the cavalry gazetted as a provisional lieutenant in the 6th Hussars, and by 1913 he was Lt.-Colonel of the 13th Scottish Light Dragoons. With the gathering of the clouds over Europe, Colonel Baker steeled himself for field service and responded to a toast to his health: "e;my aim is to win, if possible, the confidence of my men and to leave the rest to circumstance and the turn of events."e;His military career was to be of great merit but short in duration, like many of his comrades-in-arms who travelled from the furthest Dominions to Flanders Fields. His story is told in his collection of letters, and a copy of the despatch that memorialises his death; but suffice to say that they are a telling recollection of an upright, honourable soldier, loved by his men, conscientious to his duty, who lay down his life for his country.Author - Lt. Colonel George Harold Baker M.P. d. 1916Text taken, whole and complete, from the edition privately published.Original Page Count - 83Illustrations - 3 Portraits