We regret to advise of the death of Lance Corporal Austin Richard “Nick” Baker (Ret'd) on 3 March 2017, peacefully, at the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria, BC at age 99 years.
A WW II veteran, Nick was born in Epworth, England but grew up spending much of his time in Canada on Lake Ontario. After attending Ryerson Technical School he began working in the mines in Northern Quebec. Nick joined the Canadian Army in 1941 at age 24 and trained at Camp Borden ON, and Toronto. He was soon sent to England and continued to train at Aldershot. Nick served in the 1st Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers and was part of the Italian Campaign. He worked on the construction of crucial bridges and roads throughout Italy in support of the advance on Rome of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. While in Italy, Nick was wounded and later transferred to England where he convalesced.
Returning to civilian life after demobilization, the family moved from Dundas, ON to Ardmore, BC in 1967 and Nick became the Post Master in Brentwood Bay. He spent his retirement in North Saanich. He was a member of the Saanich Peninsula Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
A memorial service with be held Monday, 20 March at 2 pm, at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 37, 1660 Mills Rd., North Saanich BC.{khMar2017}
