Leonard Baker

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher.

Leonard Baker was born in the Atherstone Registration District in the 23rd October 1917. Leonard was adopted by the William and Lavinia Daffern, and he is seen for the first time on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, living with the family at Coleshill Road, Ansley Common, Ansley, Warwickshire. His adoptive father had been out of work but at the time of the census he had got a job as a Miner - Hewer for W. G. Phillips, Ansley.

The next time we see Leonard Baker was on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939. He was single and was working as a Bricklayer. The Midland Counties Tribune, dated 15th of December 1944, tells us a little more about Leonard in his obituary. He was educated at Hartshill Schools and joined the Forces in 1940.

Leonard was to marry Lilian Darlaston on the 26th September 1942 at Bedworth Parish Church in the Nuneaton Registration District. She had been living with her family in Bedworth and was working as a Rayon Worker, Testing Department. They would have a son, who was only 9 months old when Leonard was killed on D-Day 1944.

Leonard was serving with 45 Royal Marine Commando which landed on Sword Beach on D-Day. The circumstances of his death is unknown and he has no known place of burial so is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial to the Missing, Hampshire.