Baker, H L (Henry Lewis)
Sergeant Henry Baker was from Southfield, London Road, Poynton. He joined the Royal Air Force on the 2nd of May 1939 and was a married man at the time of his death.
While on a navigational training flight in a Wellington bomber[1] (T2919), the pilot came down through cloud only to find out he was dangerously close to high ground at Hulls Farm, Coal Hill, County Londonderry. The bomber had no time to react and subsequently crashed.
Flight Sergeant Douglas Norman Rain (Pilot/Instructor)[2] and Sergeant Sidney James Hucklesby[3] were also onboard and lost their lives in this tragic accident along with Sergeant Henry Baker.
Date of Death: 12/08/1942 (Aged 30)
Service: Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner), Royal Air Force Reserves.
Service Number: 1376934
Burial Location: Grave 7.
[1] The Vickers Wellington was a twin engines long range bomber, that made its maiden flight during June 1936, finally going into service October 1938.
[2] Flight Sergeant Douglas Norman Rain (possibly Rains), (service number 641910) was 23 years old when he died. He was the son of Albert Henry and Ethel Rains, of Poynton. His body was taken home and laid to rest in Poynton’s, St. George’s, Churchyard, Cheshire, England.
[3] Sergeant Sidney James Hucklesby (service number 1376656) was 29 years old when he died. He was the son of Sidney and Theophilia Elizabeth Hucklesby and husband of Joyce Audrey Hucklesby, of Mitcham. Sidney’s body was taken home and he was laid to rest in Mitcham, London Road, Cemetery, Surrey, England.