Pte Baker

[Dannemois]

Originally Posted by Owen

Day he died they were fighting on the Ibbenburen Ridge.

>> Battles 1945





>> Infantry Regiments Page

Many thanks for the information. I know where you are all coming from with regards service records, I have purchased those of my family and found it all to be money well spent but at the end of the day, I am researching Pte Baker as a favour and if the daughter dosen't what to spend then I'm not going to be able to tell her much, am I.

[dbf]

Originally Posted by Dannemois

I am researching Pte Baker as a favour and if the daughter dosen't what to spend then I'm not going to be able to tell her much, am I.

Best of luck with it Roy; you must be rather frustrated.

Diane

[Owen]

Had a message from Dannemois .

Please can anyone help with a photograph a gravestone in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery?
Pte B W G Baker 14767330, Durham Light Infantry, 9th Bn, KIA 04/04/1945, Grave Ref 55.B.13
Thanks in advance
Roy

Can anyone help?

[saintconor]

Originally Posted by Peter Clare

Not prepared to pay £30? - not very interested then.

I agree. How can one be interested but not be willing to pay £30. To Date I have had to fork out this amount on around 10 occasions. Worth every penny.

[AndyBaldEagle]

Owen

I will add it to my ever growing list! (Holland/Germany trip next year)

Andy

[Verrieres]

The town of Ibbenburen at the north east end of the Teutoburger Wald was the scene of heavy fighting on the 4th April 1945.9DLI were up against an enemy who were fighting ferociously in small groups making it difficult to bring down effective artillery support on their positions.
Supported by 5th Dragoon Guards A Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through C Company 9DLI and continue the advance towards Ibbenburen. Pte B W G Baker was a member of A Company 9DLI.Outside of Ibbenburen was a long stream and in front of that a row of enemy occupied houses, each house had to be fought for, eventually tanks were brought up to shell/flamethrower each house all the while there was heavy sniper fire from the German defenders with the tank commanders and DLI platoon Sgts a favourite target.
After heavy fighting A Company cleared the area and took 20 prisoners. The advance continued behind an artillery barrage and support fire from 9DLI 3” mortars. At 10;45hrs a pause in the advance was called as a bulldozer came forward to clear a road block in front of C Company 9DLI positions, this gave time for the tank support to reorganise and receive much needed ammunition.
At 12;30hrs B Company 9DLI were ordered to pass through A Company and take up the lead. Led by a Canadian officer Captain Hal Foster B Company crossed the stream and established a bridgehead on the opposite side.9DLI advanced to within 600yards of the main bridge when an order was received to withdraw slightly and take up defensive positions astride of the main road .It had been decided that 52nd Div were to continue the attack on Ibbenburen the 9DLI were to rejoin 7th Armoured Division. This was the end of 9DLI participation in this attack.
Casualties during this bitter fighting included the following killed in action;- 3602590 L/Cpl Ernest Hall, B Company 9DLI, 4686682 L/Sgt John Hopkinson, 14767330 Pte B W G Baker (listed as George Baker), 14629348 Pte Richard John Cox, 3133797 Pte David Dickson all A Company 9DLI, 4610792 Sgt John Fredrick Thomas Giles (CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) , 14751185 Pte John Risidore , 4448438 Pte George Edward Smith(CWGC date KIA 03.04/1944) all of C Company 9DLI . Eighteen other ranks wounded.
During this action L/Sgt Nicholson won a MM I have details of his Citation if anyone would like to read it I`ll post it for you.
Regards
Verrieres

[Owen]

During this action L/Sgt Nicholson won a MM I have details of his Citation if anyone would like to read it I`ll post it for you.

Yes , please.

[Verrieres]

MM citation

As requested L/SGT James M Nicholson 9th Durham Light Infantry Citation for MM reads as follows;-

At Ibbenburen on the 4th April 1945, the Platoon Commander and Platoon Sgt were wounded and the whole platoon was pinned to the ground over a wide area. Shell Fire and accurate sniping and Spandau fire was covering the platoons position.
L/Sgt Nicholson took command and by his personal example, in walking around regardless of the danger, managed to rally and reorganise the platoon then led them into cover. As he was no longer in wireless contact with the Company he again walked back across the open under fire, to a tank troop commander and reported his position to his Company Commander. On returning he again found his platoon position being fired at by several snipers. He brought the fire of the platoon down which enabled it to advance and he led a final rush onto the objective, killing five snipers and enabling the rest of the Company to get on.
If it had not been for this NCOs inspiring display of coolness and courage, his platoon would have failed to have been effective and this advance would have been held up
Regards
Verrieres