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Alice Baker (veteran)

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Alice Baker
Baker, centre, during World War I
Born(1898-07-28)28 July 1898
Costessey, Norfolk, England
Died2 March 2006(2006-03-02) (aged 107)
Hallows Hospital, Ditchingham, Norfolk, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Battles / warsWorld War I

Alice Baker (28 July 1898 – 2 March 2006) was a British World War I service veteran. She was one of the last known female British World War I veterans in the UK.[1] Her non-combat service was as a Leading Aircraftswoman in the Royal Flying Corps at the age of 18 as a 'doper' waterproofing aircraft wings.[2]

Biography

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She was born in 1898 in Costessey, near Norwich in England. After the war, she became a nurse at Saint Andrew's hospital in Thorpe. She married a police officer named Stanley. They had a son, Leslie, who was a pilot during World War II. He served in the RAF and as a bomber pilot. At the age of 94, she was invited for the 75th anniversary of the RAF, and stood next to Queen Elizabeth II.[clarification needed] On Alice's 100th and 107th birthdays, RAF Coltishall pilots did commemorative flypasts in her honour. She lived with her family in Hempnall until she was 104, then moved to a care home in Ditchingham. Alice Baker died in her sleep at the age of 107 on 2 March 2006.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "WWI aircraftswoman dies aged 107". BBC News. 7 March 2006.
  2. ^ a b "The end of an era as veteran Alice dies". EDP 24. 6 March 2006. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2007.