Elizabeth Baker (nee Last) married a post office engineer in 1922 and settled in Chelmsford. She was killed in May 1943 in the 'Chelmsford Blitz' when a German bomb exploded close the air raid shelter she was in behind her house in Lynmouth Avenue. The bomb demolished the wall of the shelter. Her husband was fatally injured in the same incident and died a month later.
Elizabeth was born around 1877.
She married Charles Daniel Baker in Colchester in 1922 and shortlyt afterwards moved to Chelmsford where he worked for the General Post Office's engineering department.
By 1943 Charles and Elizabeth were living at 39 Lynmouth Avenue, Chelmsford.
In the early hours of 14th May 1943 Chelmsford experienced what was to prove to be its heaviest air raid of the war. In a sharp attack that lasted for just over an hour, the German air force, the Luftwaffe, dropped a large number of high explosive, incendiaries and parachute landmines which caused extensive damage to residential, commercial and industrial properties in the town, and led to the deaths of more than 50 people including Elizabeth and her husband.
They lost their lives as a result one of a pair of 250 kg high explosive bombs that fell either side of Lynmouth Avenue. One of the bombs exploded at number 37 their neighbouring property, just twelve feet from a brick surface shelter.
66 year-old Elizabeth, who was in the shelter, was killed when the wall nearest the bomb collapsed on her. Charles was severely injured and died from his injuries at Chase Farm Hospital, Enfield, Middlesex on 22nd June 1943.
The bomb left a crater 19 feet across by just 2 feet deep and left numbers 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 & 41 damaged beyond repair, while number 43 was seriously damaged.
Elizabeth was buried in grave 5423 at Chelmsford Norough Cemetery on 25th May 1943.
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Elizabeth BAKER (nee LAST), Civilian
Killed during an air raid at 39 Lynmouth Avenue, Chelmsford. Aged 66