WWII Veteran Trooper (Retired) Tommy Baker, who lives in Red Deer, received a parade featuring military vehicles and some from RDES and Red Deer RCMP for his 97th birthday on Saturday, Oct. 3. (rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

"I was lucky"

WWII veteran gets special parade for 97th birthday

Oct 3, 2020 | 2:37 PM

Born Oct. 3, 1923, WWII veteran Trooper (Retired) Tommy Baker celebrated his 97th birthday in style on Saturday from his home in Red Deer’s Timberlands neighbourhood.

Members of Red Deer Emergency Services, local RCMP, and 41 Canadian Brigade Group (Army Reserve) conducted a parade for Baker, who was very pleasantly surprised.

Baker was born in Pierson, Manitoba, but grew up in Calgary. He moved to Red Deer about two decades ago. During his service with the Calgary Regiment Tanks (now the King’s Own Calgary Regiment), Baker was a tank crew member, dispatch rider and driver mechanic.

He enlisted in May 1939, and was shipped overseas two years later. In August 1942, Baker was part of Operation Jubilee, also known as the Dieppe Raid, where more than 900 Canadian soldiers were killed and several hundred more wounded.

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He was wounded himself in October 1943 while in Motta, Italy where he suffered shrapnel injuries to his right thigh and shoulder.

“He was 16 when he enlisted. His father hauled him out, but he went right back and signed up again. The shores in England [where he was shipped first] weren’t like the shores in Dieppe, and when he went over for his first tour of duty, that was to Dieppe. He luckily survived,” says Sandee Baker, Tommy’s daughter. “Their stories will disappear, their memories will disappear, and that’s what I hold dearest because I’m so proud of what he did for his country.”

Saturday’s festivities were kickstarted by Patricia Murphy, Maj. Retd, King’s Own Calgary Regiment Association. Murphy, who handed over organizing duties to the 78th Field Battery in Red Deer, said it was heartwarming to see the event come to fruition.

“I do hope Tommy feels the love because these guys and girls that came out, they volunteered and wanted to be here and honour him and his service,” said Murphy. “I think [about] the Second World War veterans who went overseas to fight for the liberties of people they didn’t even know, and risking their lives; that’s selflessness.”

2nd Lieut. Jason Taylor with 78th Field Battery (Red Deer), Royal Canadian Artillery, said it was an honour for his members to meet and celebrate Trooper Baker.

“Today’s been a very moving experience to not only see the organizations that have come together, come together, but to see the community come out in recognition of Mr. Baker,” Taylor said. “I don’t know if words can really describe the sentiment in the air today, to see the gesture made by the community and these organizations for the sacrifice he made for his country.”

Asked why serving was important to him, Baker said he recalls enlisting at such a young age.

“I was [a teenager] when I was on the front lines, and 18 when I was wounded for the first time,” he said. “I’m lucky.”

Baker received on honourary discharge on Jan. 10, 1946. Following VE Day (May 8, 1945), he had remained at HQ overseas, and the returned to Canada in Dec. 1945.

On Saturday, the RCMP presented Baker with a plaque for his service, and he received a quilt of valour.