George Cross Recipient. On 25th-26th October 1938, he was working at the Hackney Wick Stadium, when a gang of workmen were engaged in piling work. Metal cylinders about 15in in diameter were being sunk into the ground, the earth inside then being removed. At about 2.30am they encountered an obstruction. Herbert Baker, a small man, volunteered to be lowered down into the cylinder, presumably so he could clear the obstruction with his feet. About 12ft down he called for help, and the men began to pull him up, but before he reached the top he lost his grip and fell to the bottom of the cylinder. Kent, who was also a small man, volunteered to be lowered down head first in an attempt to pull Baker out. However, he gave signs of being distressed and was hauled up in a state of semi-collapse and bleeding from the mouth. Another man, Frank Devlin, then volunteered to be lowered but his shoulders got stuck and he had to be pulled back up. In the meantime Kent had recovered and asked to go back down again. This time he grabbed hold of Baker and managed to get him up. Both men were taken to the hospital where Baker was found to be dead.
George Cross Recipient. On 25th-26th October 1938, he was working at the Hackney Wick Stadium, when a gang of workmen were engaged in piling work. Metal cylinders about 15in in diameter were being sunk into the ground, the earth inside then being removed. At about 2.30am they encountered an obstruction. Herbert Baker, a small man, volunteered to be lowered down into the cylinder, presumably so he could clear the obstruction with his feet. About 12ft down he called for help, and the men began to pull him up, but before he reached the top he lost his grip and fell to the bottom of the cylinder. Kent, who was also a small man, volunteered to be lowered down head first in an attempt to pull Baker out. However, he gave signs of being distressed and was hauled up in a state of semi-collapse and bleeding from the mouth. Another man, Frank Devlin, then volunteered to be lowered but his shoulders got stuck and he had to be pulled back up. In the meantime Kent had recovered and asked to go back down again. This time he grabbed hold of Baker and managed to get him up. Both men were taken to the hospital where Baker was found to be dead.
Bio by: Paul Barnett
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