TOPIC:

Roxby Balneavis Baker

Hello Smethwick, first, thank you so very much. I apologise for my mental slowness and the extra lengths you go to to provide me with information, for which I am eternally grateful, but sadly still don't understand. . .

So, before you retire from this battlefield please could you please help me a tad more...

I can’t understand why he is listed on both documents you shared (one signed in Rietfontein on 14 08 01 and the other in Barberton on 25 04 1903) only with the initial R?

His birth name was Roxby Balneavis Baker. Yes, the number 1290 appears on both documents as well as the AngloBoerWar.com website which I found today listing him as Baker B / R.

However, the death dates don’t match up. AngloBoerWar.com says he died on 14 04 1901 in Elandsfontein. This information comes out of the In Memorium by S Watt.

I have a death certificate from the then Johannesburg Hospital in Hancock Street that lists him as Private Baker R number 5886 of the 8th Bedford Regiment. He dies in enteric Ward 6, and that he was ill from 17th February and died 3rd March, 1901. So, there is almost a month between one death date from the other and two distant locations.

I cannot make out the burial permit number 60/95? Nor the name of the cemetery. Are you able to decipher the permit number and the name of the cemetery?

If those medals were awarded to him, where did or to whom did they go? By 1901, his father, William Andrew Baker was in Australia, his mother, Mary Balneavis Baker had died in 1896 and his brother, Colin Balneavis Baker who fought on the side of the Boers was captured at the battle of Swartkoppies on 4 03 1901. He was sent to Bellary Internment camp, India and only returned to South Africa at the end of the Boer War.

I can’t get my head around how Roxby Balneavis Baker was listed with Lincolnshire Regiment to the Bedfordshire Regiment and the differences between the 1st and 2nd Battalions.

As said, I am very grateful for your help and anyone else who is able to add to this.

I hope the attachment works... I am not sure what I am doing...

Not sure I can help, as I am confused as nothing seems to hang together.

According to transcript records on Ancestry, Roxby Balneavis Baker was born in NZ and his birth was registered in the second quarter of 1879. However, on your family tree you have him born 23 November 1979 but with no supporting evidence. So there is a misfit already.

If his birth was registered in Q2 1879 he would have been 22 by the 17 July 1901 when 5886 R Barker of 8th Mounted Infantry Bedfordshire Regiment died in Johannesburg. So another misfit unless the November 1879 birthdate is correct.

1290 of the Lincolnshire Rgt cannot be him as his name was Rueben and he was born in Lincolnshire.

Added to this if he was living in S Africa at the start of the war it would be unlikely he enlisted in a regular UK regiment. He would much more probably have served in a unit raised in S Africa.

There appear to have been at least 50 R Baker's who served in the war and some of them for S African raised units. So I think almost certainly neither 1290 or 5886 R Baker were your relative.

As his brother served with the Boers is it possible Roxby also did?

Pietrasanta.

I am in agreement with David (Smethwick) regarding 1290 and 5886 Lance Corporal / Private R / B Baker. I believe that 5886 Private Baker was serving with the Oxfordshire Light Infantry and 1290 Lance Corporal R (Reuben) Baker was serving with the Lincolnshire Regiment.
This would rule out your relation as being the above soldiers.
Can I ask what led you to believe Roxby Balneavis Baker was a serving soldier in the British forces? There seems to be confusion with the family tree data and supposed military service.
Certainly born in New Zealand, resided in S A. Is it possible that Roxby may have served with his brother Colin and joined the Boers to fight the Colonial forces?
Your death certificate information could quite possibly have been misinterpreted with regard to the Bedfordshire Regiment. As previously posted 5886 certainly pertains to the Oxford Light Infantry.
As Smethwick has acknowledged, there are many Bakers recorded.
I have had a good look for a match for your man Roxby, alas, nothing, reference British regiments.

Reference the Bedfordshire Regiment I did find a 6950 Private R Baker but he was discharged on the 31st of July 1901.

If Roxby decided to go against his brothers will to fight for the Boers, he may have decided to join a South African unit. The only contender I could find was a Corporal R B Baker 599 Marshall's Horse. This chap attested on the 15th November 1899. It may be prudent to contact the Ancestry family tree contributors, they may be able to help? But it seems that the military information they have is very sketchy.



Dave.........

1290 Lance Corporal R / B Baker 2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

Personal effects for 1290 Baker.

Hello,

Again a huge thank you. I know his brother, Colin fought for the Boers as I have his information. I could not find anything for Roxby Balneavis Baker fighting for the Boers, and given that his uncle, Walter Headland Valentine Baker fought on the side of the British, see this link here on Wikitree www.wikitree.com/wiki/Baker-27463 , I assumed that he followed in his uncle's footsteps.
How do I access R B Baker 599 Marshall's Horses sign up document which would hopefully give me the name of the next of kin and home address? That would go a long way to ensure that I have the right person. Is there a statue erected to this regiment somewhere in South Africa? That would give me the list of names who died. Thank you....