Lieutenant-Colonel George Harold Baker Statue

Ottawa, Ontario

Type

Other

This bronze statue is dedicated to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel George Harold Baker, MP, who was killed in action at the Battle of Sanctuary Wood, June 2, 1916. The statue was produced by Robert Tait McKenzie in 1923 and unveiled in 1924. The sculpture is part of the House of Commons Heritage Collection, item O-865.

George Harold Baker was born in 1877 in Sweetsburg, QC (now a part of Cowansville). Upon graduation from McGill University with a law degree in 1900, he worked in Sweetsburg but returned to Montreal in 1907. In 1911, he was elected to Parliament as MP for Brome County in the Quebec Eastern Townships and remained an MP until his death in 1916. Interested in military matters, he joined the 6^th Hussars (based in Montreal) in 1903 but transferred to the Scottish Light Dragoons, based in Waterloo QC when this unit was formed in 1904, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

At the outbreak of war, he was asked to raise the 5^th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He deployed with his unit to England, arriving in July 1915 and a few months later in France. He was killed in action at the Battle of Sanctuary Wood, June 2, 1916, and is the only MP to ever die in combat.

Inscription

[bottom/bas]

Lieut-Colonel George Harold Baker, M.P. 5^th C.M.R. Killed in action June 2^nd 1916 at the Battle of Sanctuary Wood. Erected by order of the Parliament of Canada

[left side/côté gauche]

[carving on wall/sculpture sur le mur]

And thus this man died leaving his death for an example of a noble courage and a memorial of virtue not only unto young men but unto all his nation. – 2 Maccabees VI 31.

[brass plaque/plaque en laiton]

Ci’git l’homme qui donne sa vie, exemple d’un courage infini pour les jeunes gens ont suivi, pour tout son people, son pays. – 2 Maccabées VI 31.

À vous jeunes désabusés, à vous de porter l’oriflamme et de garder au fond de l’âme le gout de vivre en liberté. Acceptez de défi, si non, les coquelicots se faneront au champ d’honneur. – Jean Parizeau.

Lieutenant-colonel George Harold Baker, Député. 5e Bataillon canadien de Fusiliers à cheval. Mort au combat le 2 juin 1916 lors de la Bataille du Bois de Sanctuaire. Érigé par ordre du Parlement du Canada.

[right side/côté droit]

[carving on wall/sculpture sur le mur]

To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields. – John McCrae

[brass plaque/plaque en laiton]

And thus this man died leaving his death for an example of a noble courage and a memorial of virtue not only unto young men but unto all his nation. – 2 Maccabees VI 31.

To you from failing hands we throw the torch. Be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die, we shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields. – John McCrae

Lieut-Colonel George Harold Baker, M.P. 5^th C.M.R. Killed in action June 2^nd 1916 at the Battle of Sanctuary Wood. Erected by order of the Parliament of Canada