Geoffrey Baker
20 June 1912 - 8 May 1980
Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Baker Crown Copyright
Place of birth	India
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1932 - 1971
Rank	Field Marshal
Commands held	127 Field Regiment 3rd Regiment RHA Southern Command
Battles/wars	World War II Northern Ireland
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mention in Despatches

Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Harding Baker GCB, CMG, CBE, MC (20 June 1912 - 8 May 1980) was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. For other meanings see Field Marshal (disambiguation Field marshal is a military officer rank The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath) is a British Order of chivalry founded by George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. The Military Cross ( MC) is the third level Military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993 other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to Events 451 - Battle of Chalons: Flavius Aetius ' defeats Attila the Hun. Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces.

Army career

Geoffrey Baker was educated at Wellington College and commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1932^[1]. The Royal Artillery, is the common name for the Royal Regiment of Artillery, is an Arm of the British Army. Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar.

Baker participated in the campaign in East Africa where he was wounded, mentioned in dispatches and won the MC. The Military Cross ( MC) is the third level Military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993 other ranks of the British Army and formerly also to He was appointed Commanding Officer of 127 Field Regiment RA in 1943 and led this unit into Sicily^[2]. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. He was wounded in action.

In 1951 he took command of 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery and after a tour at the War Office in 1955 he became Director of Operations and Chief of Staff during the campaign against insurgents in Cyprus. Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA is a regiment in the British Army. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Cyprus (Κύπρος transliterated: Kýpros,; Kıbrıs officially the Republic of Cyprus (Κυπριακή Δημοκρατία Kypriakī́ Dīmokratía In 1961 he was appointed Chief-of-Staff at SHAPE where he was responsible for contingency plans for Berlin^[2]. Year 1961 ( MCMLXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ( SHAPE) is the central command of NATO Military forces Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany.

Following a term as Vice-Chief of the General Staff from 1963, he became General Officer Commanding Southern Command in 1966^[3]. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. General Officer Commanding ( GOC) is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth (and some other nations to a General officer who holds a command Year 1966 ( MCMLXVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the 1966 Gregorian calendar.

He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1968. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. During his time in that role he had to contend with the troubles in Northern Ireland and his assessment at that time was that Special Branch had inadequate intelligence on the IRA ^[4]. Northern Ireland (Tuaisceart Éireann Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a Country within the United Kingdom, lying in the northeast of The Irish Republican Army ( IRA) (Óglaigh na hÉireann was a military organisation descended from the Irish Volunteers, established 25 November 1913 and who He retired from the British Army in 1971^[3]. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar.

Later career

In retirement he became Master Gunner, St. James's Park and then Constable of the Tower of London. The Master Gunner (of St James's Park is the ceremonial head of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and channel of communication between the Regiment and the Captain General ( The Constable of the Tower of London is the governor of the Tower of London. He was also a Director of several companies as well as Chairman of the Governors of Wellington College and a Member of the Council of Radley College. Radley College ( St Peter's College Radley) is a famous English public school situated on the edge of the village of Radley near

References

Further reading

• Heathcote, T. A. (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736-1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5

This biographical article related to the British Army is a stub. Field Marshal Sir Charles Archibald James Halkett Cassels GCB, KBE, DSO ( 28 February 1907 - 28 February Chief of the General Staff ( CGS) has been the title of the professional head of the British Army since 1964. Field Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC ( 24 April 1915 - 9 December The Master Gunner (of St James's Park is the ceremonial head of the Royal Regiment of Artillery and channel of communication between the Regiment and the Captain General ( Field Marshal Sir Richard Amyatt Hull, KG, GCB, DSO ( 7 May 1907 - 17 September 1989) was the last The Constable of the Tower of London is the governor of the Tower of London. A biography (from the Greek words bíos (βίος meaning "life" and gráphein (γράφειν meaning "to write" is an account The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.