Major George H. W. Baird was born on 10 January 1903. He married Catherine Augusta Forester on 22 January 1931. George Baird was educated at Eton College, Eton, Berkshire, England.
George Baird was a Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military College and was gazetted as a 2nd Lt in the Seaforth Highlanders on 30th August 1923. In October of 1928, Lt. G. H. W. Baird was selected for service on Staff and was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor & G.O.C. in C. (General Officer Commanding in Chief) Gibraltar. I believe this is the time period when he purchased this helmet.
The Seaforth Regiment distinguished its headgear with a flash of MacKenzie tartan with a white feather hackle.
Note the Seaforth badge affixed to the flash on these officers’ helmets. (Courtesy Benny Bough)
Note the four red spacers between the headband and the helmet shell. Normally when spacers were used there were eight. Note also the metal straps around the chinchain hooks.
Major Baird’s beautiful Wolseley helmet is an Equator Brand “Best English Manufacture Waterproof Tropical Helmet.”
Marking on the leather headband. Also notice the unique red suspension system.
Detail of the high hook for use when the chinchain was worn up.
Spring hook where chin chain attaches to the helmet when worn up.
Nicely japanned and named tin.
Luggage tag, still attached to Baird’s carrying tin. Ach Na Grian is Gaelic and roughly translated means “Field of the Sun” and is probably a house/property name.
Baird was promoted to Captain in 1936 and retired on retirement pay 20 March 1939. At some point shortly thereafter, he went back on active duty at the outbreak of war.
We do not have much information regarding his wartime service, but we do know that he was taken prisoner and was held at Oflag IX near Kassel. He was part of the well known, “March East” to prevent liberation by the Americans. Finally on 13 April 1945 the Americans arrived and the men were then flown from Wimmelburg to Liege. Baird’s name is mentioned in a diary belonging to Australian, Marcus Edwards:
“Sun. April 15th
Walked with Geo Baird up the hill by the village. All doubts about our fate set at rest. Hear we are to be flown home tomorrow. “
Douglas Dakotas (C-47s) from 97th Squadron, 440 Troop Carrier Group, 9th Air Force, wait to take the former prisoners to Liege. This was likely one of the best scenes that George Baird had witnessed, in a very long time! (Courtesy of Leighton Hill – Green Family Collection via Peter Green).
It is not known for sure, when George Baird was captured, but Peter Green, author of The March East 1945, speculated that he was captures at Saint-Valery-en-Caux, in 1940 along with others from the 51st Highland Division.
Captain G. H. W. Baird, Captain & Brevet Major, Reserve of Officers, relinquished his commission 1st Sept. 1948.
Captain & Brevet Major, Reserve of Officers, G. H. W. Baird (27150) having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Reserve of Officers, 10th Jan. 1953.
Major Baird died in 1992.
My thanks to Stuart Bates, Benny Bough, Charlie Claydon and Peter Green for their help with this information.
Jon Maguire
Addendum
Since publication of the original article, Major Baird’s granddaughter Nicola Baird was kind enough to provide us with additional information.
Major Baird was indeed captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux. As luck would have it – a place where his father and mother used to picnic.
The house in Nairn, “Ach Na Grian”, was his home. It’s in Albert Street, Nairn and Nicola has been told that it is now called “Sunnyfield”.
George met his wife, Catherine, while he was ADC in Gibraltar.
Nicola also added: Baird is an ancient Scottish family – many of the men were soldiers. A long-dead relative was Sir David Baird who was a key figure at the Battle of Seringapatam in India at the end of the 18th century.
George H. W. Baird in Full Dress uniform of the Seaforths (courtesy of Nicola Baird)
Hello, what a happy surprise to see this – and to see my grandfather’s writing. I can confirm that he was captured at Saint Valary en Coux (a place his father and mother used to picnic) as he wrote it down in a very brief history of his life that I have. I had no idea he had retired just before the war started, how grim for him.
Nicola Baird
Hi, my name is Peter Driver and I am the Local History recorder for Monewden Suffolk where George and his wife lived at Moat House,(the Old Rectory for 30 or so years.I knew him very well and recorded him talking about his life from a young lad, through some of his army experiences, to his post war job of organizing the local Civil Defence. Please contact me If this would interest you.
Thank you Peter – I would be very interested to see/hear this information!
Hi Jon, Sorry for the delay. I have come across a precis of the tape I made of George which clears up where he was captured and his life before and during the war etc. I will be pleased to send you a copy if you could send your E mail.
George was a gentleman in the true sense of the word and not at all what you would think of as a warrior!
He spent much of the late part of his life bird watching and never quite forgave me for not ringing him when I had a wind blown hoopoe on my lawn! Hoping to hear from you soon, regards, Peter.
Hi Peter,
I sent an email to the address associated with your replay @hotmail.com
Thank you so much!
Jon