Geoffrey Baker

Infobox Military Person
name= Sir Geoffrey Baker
lived=20 June 1912 - 8 May 1980


caption=Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Baker
Crown Copyright
nickname=
placeofbirth=India
placeofdeath=
allegiance=flagicon|United Kingdom United Kingdom
branch=
serviceyears=1932 - 1971
rank=Field Marshal
unit=
commands=127 Field Regiment
3rd Regiment RHA
Southern Command
battles=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
relations=
laterwork=For|the fourteenth-century English chronicler|Geoffrey the Baker
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.

Army career

Geoffrey Baker was educated at Wellington College and commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1932 [Heathcote, Anthony pg 37] .

Baker participated in the campaign in East Africa where he was wounded, mentioned in dispatches and won the MC. He was appointed Commanding Officer of 127 Field Regiment RA in 1943 and led this unit into Sicily Heathcote, Anthony pg 38] . 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. In 1961 he was appointed Chief-of-Staff at SHAPE where he was responsible for contingency plans for Berlin.

Following a term as Vice-Chief of the General Staff from 1963, he became General Officer Commanding Southern Command in 1966Heathcote, Anthony pg 39] .

He was appointed Chief of the General Staff in 1968. 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 [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/585080.stm Papers reveal Government in the dark over IRA] ] . He retired from the British Army in 1971.

Later career

In retirement he became Master Gunner, St. James's Park and then Constable 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.

References

Further reading

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

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