Geoffrey Baker

Sir Geoffrey Baker
Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Baker
Born	(1912-06-20)20 June 1912 Murree, India
Died	8 May 1980(1980-05-08) (aged 67) Wellington College, Berkshire, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1932–1971
Rank	Field Marshal
Unit	Royal Artillery
Commands held	Chief of the General Staff Southern Command 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Battles/wars	Second World War Cyprus Emergency Operation Banner
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 Mentioned in Despatches (3) Legion of Merit (United States)
Other work	Constable of the Tower of London (1975–80)

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, from 1968 to 1971. He served in the Second World War and became Director of Operations and Chief of Staff for the campaign against EOKA in Cyprus during the Cyprus Emergency and later in his career provided advice to the British Government on the deployment of troops to Northern Ireland at the start of the Troubles.

Born the son of Colonel Cecil Norris Baker and Ella Mary Baker (née Hutchinson) and educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Baker was commissioned into the Royal Artillery on 28 January 1932. He was promoted to lieutenant on 28 January 1935 and was posted later that year to Meerut in India.

Baker served in the Second World War and, having been promoted to captain on 28 January 1940, and posted as a staff officer to Headquarters Middle East in May 1940. He took part in the campaign in East Africa, during which he fought at the Battle of Keren for which he was awarded the Military Cross on 8 July 1941, was wounded three times, and was mentioned in despatches on 30 December 1941 and on 15 December 1942. He was appointed Commanding Officer of 127 Field Regiment RA in July 1943 and, having been appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services in the Middle East on 14 October 1943, he led his regiment during the Allied invasion of Sicily. In March 1944 he joined to staff at 21st Army Group and took part in the Normandy landings and the campaign in North West Europe, being mentioned in despatches on 10 May 1945, appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 24 January 1946, and awarded the Legion of Merit in the Degree of Commander by the President of the United States on 17 September 1948.