Service
Transferred to the 4th Light Dragoons on the 1st of November 1854.
Joined the regiment in the Crimea on the 25th of May 1855.
Tried by a Regimental Court-martial at Brighton on the 12th of July 1856 for "Breaking out of barracks" and "Pawning his medal". He was sentenced to 84 days' imprisonment, with hard labour.
Confined in Lewes Gaol from the 6th of December 1856 to the 16th of May 1857.
[PB: Baker had gone absent without leave for just one day, 2nd of July, but in his absence TSM Waterson, examining his effects, found no trace of Baker's Crimea medal. When Baker returned on the 3rd, he told TSM Waterson that he had pawned it for 6s. Colonel Lowe, commanding the 4th Light Dragoons was so outraged he brought a case against the owner of the pawnshop (a Mr Lyons), for accepting a medal, "contrary to the provision of the Mutiny Act, by which the defendant had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £20. Just prior to his court martial, Baker appeared in a Brighton court as a witness in the case.]
John Baker and TSM Waterson appear as witnesses in a court case in Brighton concerning the pawning of Baker's Crimea Medal [Source: Brighton Gazette, 10 July 1856; cutting provided by Nick Miller]
(Click on image to enlarge)
William Waterson, a Crimean veteran, stated as follows: I am troop Sergeant Major of the 4th Light Dragoons, which are now stationed at Brighton. Private John Baker of the same regiment is now in Court. Baker was absent without leave on the 2nd of July, and on examining his things during his absence, I discovered that they were deficient of his Crimean medal.
When he returned on the 3rd of July I saw him in the guard room, and in consequence of some conversation which I had with him, I communicated with Colonel Lowe who directed me to go to Mr Lyons' Shop in the New Road, where I saw Baker's medal pledged for 6s. I have the duplicate [i.e. receipt] which was given to me by Baker, and which corresponded with the ticket on the medal...
The medals are worn on one particular jacket. I did not miss Baker's medal till I examined his things on the 2nd July. I had not observed that he had not worn his medal for nearly six weeks. I do not think I could have missed it from parade, unless he wore another person's medal. We only wear the ribbon in undress."
Baker was in military custody awaiting court martial. He was asked whether he would know his medal if saw it again, and said he would because "I scratched my name on it with a pin".
According to Colonel Lowe:
"the simple facts were, [Baker] had pledged the medal...Unfortunately the medals were not marked yet, the Government not having time to do them. This Baker was one of the blackguards who had pawned his medal. He wears it (added the galant Colonel) for a few months service, and struts about with it as if he had gone through the campaign, and the not having the pride to keep it as he ought to have done, he sells it in order to get beer, and to disgrace himself...
The misfortunate is that a great many blackguards have enlisted lately in the service, and we want to deprive these fellows of the means of disposing of their medals for the purpose of indulging in their drunken propensities. I have no ill feeling whatever against Mr Lyons, whom I do not know, on bringing this case forward, but I do it solely... on public grounds to prevent these fellows from selling their medals.
The Mayor [one of the magistrates] — It would have served Baker right if he had been turned out of the regiment.
Colonel Low — If he had been in the Crimea, he would have been flogged.
The Mayor — For a man to receive a regard of merit and disgrace himself in that way. One would naturally suppose that it would be the last thing he would part with.
Colonel Lowe — There will always be some black sheep in a flock. (A laugh.) And I am sorry to say that some medals have been stolen.
The Pawnbroker was fined three times the value of the medal, plus 1s for the offence and costs. The expectation was that nobody in future would be able to plead ignorance of the law concerning the pawning of medals. "The parties then left the Court, the man Baker in custody of a sergeant of the 4th Dragoons." Baker himself was later [.....]