Second World War Service and Sacrifice – Hubert ‘Baron’ Baker (1925-1996)
Subject
World War II; Britain; Hubert ‘Baron’ Baker
Description
Born in Jamaica in 1925, Baker came to Britain in 1944, aged 19. Baker joined the RAF as a policeman, lying he said he was 21, because of his eagerness to fight against Hitler.
Baker found ordinary Britons welcoming to those who were fighting with them, his first experience of racism was to be in a pub in Gloucester where American soldiers refused to drink alongside black customers. Baker, who thought of himself at British reacted angrily. His disgust at racism would lead him to heckle Oswald Mosley as he espoused fascism.
Baker had joined the RAF to fight fascism and would continue to fight fascism and racism once the war was over. After being demobilised in 1948 he would fight against British government plans to repatriate Caribbean servicemen after the Second World War, after the Empire Windrush arrived in 1948, beginning the immigration to Britain of thousands of men and women from the Caribbean, many faced immediate discrimination in their attempts to find shelter and Baker persuaded the government to open Clapham South’s air raid shelter to provide temporary accommodation on occasion Baker would stay in the shelter himself. Looking for a longer-term solution Baker and others sought to establish black communities in London.
Baker would become known as the `man who discovered Brixton`, an area where people from the Caribbean were able to find jobs and homes. Baker would continue to fight against racism both politically and physically. In race riots in 1958 Baker and his friends using their own military experience met hundreds of white rioters, ultimately chasing the rioters away. Baker would go on to found the United Africa-Asia league to fight discrimination and would make regular speeches against racism at Hyde Park’s Speakers Corner
Baker lived the remainder of his life in Notting Hill; he died in 1996. His funeral was held in Kensal Green Cemetery; where he was remembered as a respected and important member of the community.
Creator
Written by Royal British Legion
Source
Publisher
blackhistorymonth.org.uk
File
