Service
From Private to Tptr. 3rd of January 1839.
Resigned to Private in order to embark for India. 5th of June 1840.
From Private to Trumpeter: 7th of January 1841.
Returned to duty as Private, 1st of June 1842.
From Private to Corporal: 25th of September 1851.
Corporal to Sergeant: 20th of October 1854.
Sent to Scutari on the 27th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 14th of December 1854.
[PB, May 2016: CHECK! "Sent to Scutari on the 27th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 14th of December 1854" does not fit with the letter written by Sergeant Baker to his parents, from "Camp in Front of Sebastopol, Nov 7th, 1854", immediately after Inkerman.
John George Baker: Letter from "Camp in front of Sebastopol" to his parents, dated 7 November 1854, published in the Daily News, 2 January 1855.
(Click on image to enlarge)
This letter is from Anthony Dawson's collection, which gives as the reference "Soldier's Letter from the Crimea", in the Leeds Mercury (30 December 1854). I have not been able to locate it there. But, as Dawson adds, the letter was also reprinted in the Daily News, 2 Jan 1855, which is where I found it. Notice JB's religiosity.]
Camp in Front of Sebastopol,
Nov. 7th, 1854.
Dear Father and Mother,
Through the Mercy of God, and that alone, I am permitted to address you once more. I am happy to say I am still in the enjoyment of good health, and I trust this will find you all the same. I do not wish to say a word to make you uncomfortable or over anxious about me; but as I am on Guard, and have half an hour to spare, I wish to give you a few particulars.
It is very pleasant to sit in a parlour in England, with a long pipe and a glass of grog, or a pint or half-and-half, and to talk of events that occur around us. I know, by the 'papers, there are many in England who think Sebastopol ought to have been taken long ere this, and may think that by this time it really is taken, but such is not the case. We have now laid by this town since the 27th of September; we commenced firing into it on the 17th of October, and are still firing while I am writing; and I firmly believe they may continue until next April, and then they will not give in. The fortifications are immensely strong. The men-of-war ships cannot assist us in the least, and it appears impossible to take it in any other way than at the point of the bayonet, which will cost an immense sacrifice of life; but I think an attempt will be made to storm it in a few days.
I must now tell you that I have narrowly escaped being taken prisoner twice the first time I escaped by about five minutes, and the last time I escape through having a good horse and galloping through the enemy.
The papers have ere this given you an account of the engagement of the Light Brigade under the Earl of Cardigan. I was with him on that ever-memorable day, and I shall not forget it, even to the last day of my life. We advanced on a level, between two hills, both well lined with artillery, and on one three battalions of infantry, and in our front artillery were planted also in very great numbers. We galloped through all this firing, which was almost as thick as hail, and the shot from the guns were as large as ordinary Dutch cheeses; and shells were bursting all around us.
We reached the guns at the end, and cut down the gunners and drivers, and took possession of the guns; and then, to our mortification, we saw that the enemy had a large quantity of cavalry formed up ready to receive us. The consequence was, we were obliged to leave the guns, and to go three abreast back again through the same fire. And to make the affair still worse, during the time that we were cutting off the artillerymen, a party of cavalry, (about 1,000) came from behind a hill, and formed up, so that we had to cut out way through them on our retreat. We lost, killed, wounded, and missing, about sixty men. Our regiment is now only a skeleton. We have lost a great many also by disease.
You have seen in the paper the account of the skirmish which took place two days afterwards; the cavalry was not engaged on that occasion. You have likewise seen an account of the battle that took place on Sunday, the 5th of November, which was more severe than at Alma; the ground would not allow the cavalry to act, but still, we were under fire; and had two men killed or wounded, and several horses killed.
We are now expecting that Sebastopol will be stormed every day, but do not know what day it will take place. In consequence of the lateness of the season, we do not expect to return to England before spring, but we cannot tell anything positively before the town is taken.
I was not able to finish this letter in time, and must wait for the next mail; I cannot get stamps for love or money, and my letters will be all unpaid. Although within a mile of cousin Robert, I have not seen him for some weeks: but as his regiment had not been engaged, I hope he is will. Since writing the above, our Colonel has left us and returned to England. I am also informed that Lord Raglan has declined storming the town; therefore I expect we shall have to lay here for months.
Since writing the above I have been appointed Serjeant, from the 20th of October; direct to me as such, for the future.
God only knows what will become of us: the weather is wet, windy and miserable already; but I hope it will please God to preserve us though all, and. bring us safely back to Old England.
When war's proclaim'd, and danger's nigh,
God and the soldier, is the people's cry;
When was is o'er, and all things righted,
God's forgotten, and the soldier slighted.
[PB: See notes below for the origins of this poem.]
Of course you will have seen by the 'papers, that we have a large army in rear of us.
I shall now conclude with my kind love, to each an all, and that we may all meet again in this world, and dwell together at God's Right Hand for evermore in eternity, is the earnest prayer of your affectionate son.
[Source: Letter from Sergeant John George Baker (number 888), 4th Light Dragoons, to his parents, in Dawson,
Letters from the Light Brigade, pp.144-145. he cites "Soldier's Letter from the Crimea", Leeds Mercury (30 December 1854), and says the letter was also reprinted in the Daily News (2 Jan 1855). PB: I have not found it in the Leeds Mercury. ]
Marriage registered
John George Baker married Hannah Elizabeth Witting, September Quarter 1856, Depwade.
Birth registered
Alice Mary Baker, September Quarter 1857, Depwade.
1861 Census
Castle Street, Ruthin.
John George Baker, 42, Troop Serg-Major (Army), born Gissing.
Hannah E Baker, 40, born Diss.
Alice M Baker, 3, born Diss.
