Alice Baker (28 July 1898 – 2 March 2006) was a British

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

service veteran. She was one of the last known female British World War I veterans in the UK. Her non-combat service was as a Leading Aircraftswoman in the

Royal Flying Corps The Royal Flying Corps (RFC) was the air arm of the British Army before and during the First World War until it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service on 1 April 1918 to form the Royal Air Force. During the early part of the war, the RFC sup ...

at the age of 18 as a 'doper' waterproofing aircraft wings.

Biography

She was born in 1898 in Costessey, near

Norwich Norwich () is a cathedral city and district of the county of Norfolk, England, of which it is the county town. It lies by the River Wensum, about north-east of London, north of Ipswich and east of Peterborough. The population of the 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 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 19268 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. ...

. On Alice's 100th and 107th birthdays,

RAF Coltishall Royal Air Force Coltishall more commonly known as RAF Coltishall is a former Royal Air Force List of former Royal Air Force stations, station located north-north-east of Norwich, in the England, English Counties of the United Kingdom, county ...

pilots did commemorative

flypast ''FlyPast'' is an aircraft magazine, published monthly, edited by Tom Allett, Steve Beebee and Jamie Ewan. History and profile The magazine started as a bi-monthly edition in May/June 1981 and its first editor was the late Mike Twite. It is ow ...

s in her honour. She lived with her family in

Hempnall Hempnall is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Hempnall is located north of Harleston and south of Norwich. History Hempnall's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and derives from the Old English for ''Hemma's'' nook ...

until she was 104, then moved to a

care home Care may refer to: Organizations and projects * CARE (New Zealand), Citizens Association for Racial Equality, a former New Zealand organisation * CARE (England) West Midlands, Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency team, a team of doctors & ...

Ditchingham Ditchingham is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Ditchingham is located north of Bungay and south-east of Norwich, along the course of the River Waveney. History Ditchingham's name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and d ...

. Alice Baker died in her sleep at the age of 107 on 2 March 2006.

References

1898 births 2006 deaths British Army personnel of World War I British women in World War I British women centenarians Royal Flying Corps soldiers Military personnel from Norfolk People from Costessey {{WWI-bio-stub