Sir Herbert Baker was one of the three principal architects appointed by the Imperial War Graves Commission to design its cemeteries and memorials after the First World War. By the time he joined the Commission’s work, Baker was already well established as an imperial architect, having designed major public buildings in South Africa and India. His experience with large civic schemes and his preference for bold, formal compositions made him a natural fit for the Commission’s ambitious programme.
Baker’s architectural language tended to draw on Imperial Roman and classical precedents. He favoured colonnades, arches and strong axial layouts, and he often used stone in a way that emphasised mass and permanence. This approach contrasted with the more abstract tendencies of Lutyens and the lighter classical style of Blomfield, giving the Commission a broad architectural palette from which to shape its sites. Baker’s work helped establish the sense of order and monumentality that became characteristic of many of the larger cemeteries.
Among his most significant contributions were the cemetery at Neuve Chapelle, which incorporated Indian architectural motifs, and several major memorials in France and Belgium. His designs often sought to integrate the cemetery with its surrounding landscape, using terraces, steps and formal planting to create a coherent setting for the graves. Baker also played a role in shaping the Commission’s broader design principles, working closely with the other architects to ensure consistency across the hundreds of sites being constructed.
Baker’s influence can be seen in the Commission’s commitment to architectural dignity and permanence. His preference for classical forms provided a visual language that conveyed stability and authority, aligning with the Commission’s aim to create cemeteries that would endure indefinitely. His work remains a central part of the Commission’s architectural legacy, standing alongside that of Lutyens and Blomfield as one of the foundations of Commonwealth war commemoration.
