Arthur Joseph (Joe) BAKER

BAKER, Arthur Joseph

Service Number: WX8720
Enlisted: 23 October 1940, Claremont, WA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion
Born: Coolgardie, WA, 13 January 1914
Home Town: Coolgardie, Coolgardie, Western Australia
Schooling: Coolgardie WA
Occupation: Truck Driver
Died: Died at sea (Rakuyo Maru), South China Sea, 12 September 1944, aged 30 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Labuan Memorial, Labuan Federal Territory, Malaysia
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World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, WX8720
23 Oct 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, WX8720, 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, Claremont, WA

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Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

Son of Arthur Joseph and Helen Baker; husband of Mavis Theresa Baker, of Mount Lawley, Western Australia.

The residents of Coolgardie were deeply shocked to hear the news last Tuesday week that Pte. Joe Baker, AIF, had lost his life whilst on a Japanese transport.  Joe, who with many more Coolgardie boys, was a member of the 2nd/4th Machine Gun Battalion, was captured when Singapore fell.  Posted then as missing, his young wife, mother, father and family had a terribly anxious time for eighteen months.  It was only about a year ago that news was received that he was alive and well and with his mates, Harry Hammer and Fred Pritchard at Burma.  Joe, who was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Baker of Coolgardie, was only married a short while before leaving Australia.  He was born and educated in Coolgardie.  A man of wonderful physique, appearance and character, he was respected by all.

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