Harrogate Herald - 3rd March 1920

Harrogate Officer Killed in Action

Lieutenant A T T Bake

It is with deep regret that we record the death in action on February 14th, of Lieutenant Arthur T T Bake, son of Mr H J Tyack Bake, of 67 Harlow Moor Drive. Lieutenant Bake was in the Indian Army and serving in Mesopotamia, where he met his death in operations against the Kurds. The news was received by Mr Bake on Wednesday in the following telegram :

"Deeply regret to state your son, Lieutenant A T T Bake, 126th Baluchie, officially reported from Mesopotamia killed in action 14th February. Mr Secretary Montagu desires to express sincere sympathy with you in the loss of this gallant officer – Secretary, Military Department, India Office".

Lieutenant A T T Bake was educated at Ripon Grammar School from April 1912, to July 1914, and prepared privately at home from July 1914, to June 1916, for the Army Competitive Examination, winning a cadetship in the Indian Army in July 1916. He sailed in November 1916, for India in SS City of Birmingham, which was torpedoed when one day out from Alexandra. The cadets lost everything and were accommodated in Egypt for some weeks by the Army authorities before proceeding to India in a transport. The 80 cadets had a training lasting about a year at Wellington in the Nilgui Hills, South India. Thence Lieutenant Bake was attached to the 126 Baluchis, and stationed at Quetta for some time; later he went on a recruiting expedition to the Punjab and Kashmir. About February 1918, he volunteered for service in Mesopotamia, and for a period of rather more than two years during his stay there to the time of his death, he was the only officer of his regiment who was never absent from duty either from illness or any other cause. As so many of the other officers were from time to time incapacitated he was almost continuously "Acting Captain" during the last 12 months. During the war period, one could only hazard conjectures as to his whereabouts, which appear to have been far distant from Bagdad.

Since the armistice there appears to have been considerable trouble with refractory and warlike tribes, especially the Kurds; the letters home describing these operations were particularly interesting, including the storming of their stronghold amongst the mountains at a height of 7,500 feet above sea level. In acknowledging a present of a cane from one of his sisters at Xmas, he mentioned that he had already been hit twice by bullets, which suggested warm work. His father has received two interesting letters from Indian officers at present in England who knew his son.

40 Parliament Street

Nottingham

28th February 1920

Dear Sir, It was with feelings of the deepest regret I read in today's "Times" of the death of your son, Arthur Bake. I feel sure you would appreciate a letter from one who knew him well, although I am unknown to you.

I met your son in February, 1918, in a railway carriage and he travelled to Karachi with my wife and I, and later we sailed on the same ship for Mesopotamia. Then I met him several times in Mesopotamia, for we were on the same line of communications, I being with the 87th Punjabis.

I recall, too, meeting his colonel on a river boat and asking him how your son was doing, and he replied, "He has become a thoroughly reliable officer now, and I can always rely on him under any circumstances". I desire to express my deep sympathy with you, sympathy all the more real because of losses which I have myself sustained in the death of two brothers and also because I knew the real worth of your boy. He was a worthy son, and a valuable friend. I deplore his death and trust that this letter may bring some degree of comfort.

I am, dear Sir, yours faithfully,

Leonard A Wide

289 Roundhay Road,

Leeds,

28th February, 1920

Dear Mr Bake, I should like to express to you my deepest sympathy on the death of your son, Lieutenant A T T Bake, of the 126th Baluchis.

I knew you son very well. We met in Mesopotamia and my battery (49th Mountain Battery) and the 126th Baluchis were together with Lumb's Column in the Kurdistan operations in August to October of last year. Previous to that both units were encamped at Chaldari, north of Baghdad.

Your son was very popular amongst us all, and his loss, I am sure, will be deeply felt in the regiment. He did very good work during the Kurdistan operations, and he was always a cheery boy to meet.

I can assure you that it was quite a shock to me, as it would be to all of his comrades, to hear the news of his death. We often talked of the happy times we should have when we met in England – but 'tis Kismet.

Assuring you of my heartfelt sympathy,

Yours sincerely,

Peter Nicholson

We have also received the following letter from Mr Bake :

I am writing to thank you most warmly for the thoughtful kindness which prompted you during the war to send out your paper with its local news to Harrogate men serving their country. Mount son many times in his correspondence expressed his pleasure and gratitude on receiving news of this district. Alas! He is now beyond these things.

Harrogate Herald – 14th April 1920

Mr H J Tyack Bake, of 67 Harlow Moor Drive, Harrogate, has received the following letter relating to his son's death :

Expeditionary Force, Mesopotamia,

126th Baluchistan Infantry

23rd February 1920

Dear Mr Bake, I am writing to express to you, on behalf of the officers of this regiment and myself, our unstinted sympathy with you and your family in the loss of your gallant son. It is, indeed, a heavy loss, coming, as it does, when he might well have looked for some rest and respite from the dangers of war.

It will, I am sure, be a consolation to you in your bereavement to know how gallantly he had behaved on a number of occasions in Kurdistan, and also up the Euphrates, and on this last occasion when he met his end bringing back a Lewis gun, of which the team had been killed or wounded.

I am not in full possession of details, as I was sick in hospital in Baghdad at the time of the occurrence. His party appears to have been greatly outnumbered by six or seven to one, but, following the fine example set by your son, they fought splendidly, and were, after reinforcements arrived, safely withdrawn, but suffered a third casualties. I believe they took heavy toll of the enemy.

Your son was a great favourite among his brother officers and myself, his Commanding Officer. I had a high opinion of him, and am certain he would have made a high name for himself, and also that he would have had a happy career.

I deeply trust that these few lines will help you to bear your loss, and that the recorded gallantry of your son will give you cause for pride. On my part I feel I must thank you for having given such a lad to the Army, and particularly to this regiment.

Believe me, yours sincerely,

C J Woodhouse, Major

OC 126th.

PS – I will communicate with you later.

CWGC

In Memory of

ARTHUR TREVITHICK TYACK BAKE

Lieutenant 126th Baluchistan Infantry who died on Saturday, 14th February 1920. Age 21.

Additional Information:

Son of H. J. Tyack Bake, M.A., M.Sc. and T. L. E. Bake, of 67, Harlow Moor Drive, Harrogate. Educated at Ripon Grammar School and the Cadet College, Wellington, India.

Commemorative Information

Memorial:

BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq

Grave Reference/Panel Number:

Panel 52