Valentine Henry Baker (1878 - 1932)

Born Jul 1878 in Opotiki, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ellen (Cooper) Baker — married about 1911 in New South Wales, Australia

Died 6 Apr 1932 at age 53 in Redfern, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Valentine was born in 1878. He was the son of Captain Charles Baker and Susan Holland.

His father was a Master Mariner who was drowned in 1883. Valentine was about 5yrs old when his father died and about 7yrs old when he shifted to Auckland with his family. His Mother remarried and his older siblings took over his care. After leaving school he became a range-maker

Valentine served as a Private in the Boer War in South Africa, 1899-1902. (His brother Arthur also served in the Boer War and his older brother George in the First World War.)

EMBARKATION DETAILS: He was in the 6th Contingent, 16th Company (Auckland Section), in the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Valentine was a Farrier with this Contingent. The 6th New Zealand Contingent, was known as the "Silent Sixth", embarked on the SS “Cornwall”, 30 January 1901.

“Farrier” Valentine Baker NZ Defence Force He was awarded the Kings South African Medal + Clasps for South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902 [completed his Service in an Exemplary manner in South Africa 1yr 27 days]

It looks like on his return from War at the age of 23yrs he was living at Tuakau Waikato. His older brother George and some of his Holland family were living in Tuakau.

I am unsure if Valentine met his wife Mary Ellen [Mollie] Cooper prior to going to Australia or whether he met her in Australia. She was the daughter of Joseph Cooper and Emily. When he got married in 1911 his address is Redfern NSW Australia ^[1]

He survived the war and married in 1911 Mary Ellen Cooper of Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia. They had seven children. Elsie Clara Baker, Ruth Emily Baker, [1913-1987] Valerie May Baker,[1915-1968] Charles William [Charlie] Baker,[1917-1942] Lawrence Harold [Jack] Baker,[1919-1990] Dulcie Joan Baker[1920-?], Mavis Dorothy Baker [1924-1994]

Of Valentine's 8 siblings 3 of them also lived in N.S.W. Australia. [Arthur, Clara and Alma]

He died in Australia on 6 April 1932. He was buried Rookwood Necropolis Cemetery - Rookwood, Cumberland Council, New South Wales, Australia

Sources

1. ↑ Australia, New South Wales Marriage Index, 1788-1966 Marriage 1911 - Canterbury, New South Wales, Australia Registration New South Wales, Australia Bride Mary E Cooper

• New Zealand BDM Birth Records Online: 1878/11454 Baker Valentine Henry https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz

• http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C122416

• http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/soldier/valentine-henry-baker

• https://familysearch.org/tree/#view=ancestor&person=L4MR-456

• Australia BDM Death Records Online: 5633/1932 https://familyhistory.bdm.nsw.gov.au/lifelink/familyhistory/search/result?3

• Find A Grave Index Affiliate Record Identifier: 187445018