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Sir Geoffrey Baker
20 June 1912(1912-06-20) – 8 May 1980 (aged 67)
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 Royal Horse Artillery 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.

Army career

Geoffrey Baker was educated at Wellington College and commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1932^[1].

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^[2]. 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^[2].

Following a term as Vice-Chief of the General Staff from 1963, he became General Officer Commanding Southern Command in 1966^[3].

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 ^[4]. He retired from the British Army in 1971^[3].

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

Chiefs of the General Staff of the British Army Chief of the General Staff Sir Neville Lyttelton Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff Sir William Nicholson • Sir John French • Sir Charles Douglas • Sir James Murray • Sir Archibald Murray • Sir William Robertson • Sir Henry Wilson • The Earl of Cavan • Sir George Milne • Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd • Sir Cyril Deverell • The Viscount Gort • Sir Edmund Ironside • Sir John Dill • Sir Alan Brooke • The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein • Sir William Slim • Sir John Harding • Sir Gerald Templer • Sir Francis Festing • Sir Richard Hull Chiefs of the General Staff Sir Richard Hull • Sir James Cassels • Sir Geoffrey Baker • Sir Michael Carver • Sir Peter Hunt • Sir Roland Gibbs • Sir Edwin Bramall • Sir John Stanier • Sir Nigel Bagnall • Sir John Chapple • Sir Peter Inge • Sir Charles Guthrie • Sir Roger Wheeler • Sir Michael Walker • Sir Mike Jackson • Sir Richard Dannatt • Sir David Richards