Dr. Kenneth M. Baker (1944 - ), was born at Auckland, and educated at Ellerslie School, Penrose High School and Auckland University after which he carried out post-doctoral research at Cambridge University and was a Member of Emmanuel College. After a period as a Syntex Fellow and a Wellcome Fellow he then spent many years in senior management roles in the chemical, pharmaceutical and agriculture industries. His personal interests have always included family history and the First World War. The author resides in Belgium and besides English also speaks the French, Dutch and Italian languages which has proved of great benefit in researching this work. The author is the great-great grandson of Joseph Bryers, the subject of this work.