210930 Leading torpedo operator William George "Bill" Baker Royal Navy HMS Newcastle from:Swindon Bill Baker, currently aged 93 (Dec 2012), served on HMS Hasty from the start of the war until Jan 1940, and then La Triumphant (French destroyer) for a few weeks before joining HMS Newcastle in early 1940, where he served until 1943. He was on the ship when it was torpedoed by a German U boat which blew a hole right through the ship, before having to return to Alexandria.
After a six month spell at Eaton Hall near Chester (Britannia 2 Royal Navy College - from transferred Dartmouth College) he went to join HMS Gold in Boston USA, but caught chicken pox so was not allowed to sail. The ship was subsequently sumk in the Atlantic shortly afterwards, so his life was saved by having chicken pox! He then joined HMS Bligh for the remainer of the war. During this time he was responsible for depth charges during action stations and was mentioned in despatches following the sinking of a U boat in May 1944.
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