Lieutenant Montgomery Harold Albert Baker
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve HMS Ringtail

Early Life

Montgomery (possibly better known as Harry or Harold) was born in 1920 in Tavistock, Devon. He was the son of Albert and May Baker later of Ottershaw, Surrey. Albert was a school teacher from Hittisleigh in Devon and May was from Mitcham in Surrey. He had a brother Stuart who died in infancy and an adopted sister Evelyn.

School Days

Montgomery left the school in 1938. During his time at school he won chess and cricket colours and was a prefect as well as being house captain.

Montgomery front row second left

Montgomery in the 1938 cricket first XI. Front left.

World War 2

Montgomery in uniform

Montgomery served at Royal Naval Air Station Burscough (HMS Ringtail) just north of Skelmersdale in Lancashire.

He flew with 1772 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm which was formed in May 1944. It was nicknamed 'the friendly squadron'.

The squadron was equipped with Fairey Firefly two seater fighters. Much of their time was spent practising carrier landings on HMS Empress in the Irish Sea in preparation for their future deployment in Japan.

1772 Squadron at RAF Burscough. Monty Baker is fourth from left, middle row.

On 29 July 1944 Montgomery was the observer aboard Firefly Z1958 which was piloted by Lieutenant Commander A. H. D. Gough (commanding officer of 1772 Squadron).

About 17 miles west of Southport over the Irish Sea the aircraft was involved in a mid air collision with Firefly Z1956 also of 1772 Squadron. Z1956 was piloted by Lieutenant M. J. C. Wright with Lieutenant J. G. C. Sloan as observer. All four men bailed out but Baker and Sloan were killed. Montgomery’s body was never recovered.

Montgomery Baker is remembered on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire (bay 5, panel 4). He was 24 years old when he died.

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