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818289 Sergeant John Robert Baker

Picture of Soldier of 11th Parachute Battalion

Born: 01 Jan 1912
Died: 21 Sep 1944
Age at death: 32 years, 8 months, and 20 days
Company: SP
Platoon: MMG
Section: -
Parachute Course: K53

Life Story:

818289 Sergeant John Robert Baker was born in 1912 and was the son of James Henry and Barbara Ann Baker, of Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham.

John was on parachute course 59 at Ramat David, Palestine, from 09 until 21 August 1943. During the Battle of Arnhem he was a member of Support Company and section commander of a MMG Platoon.

During the Battle of Arnhem John was trying to retrieve some supplies and ammunition along with Private James William Mullender; John was killed while doing this.

He was killed in action at the age of just 32 on Thursday September 21, 1944. He is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery 6.A.14


Thanks to R.P. “Bob” Hilton; Diana Andrews; Allan Brown; Andrew Blacklock; Jon Baker; John Howes; Graham Francis; Bob Gerritsen; Darren Wielink; Maarten Lenssen; Judith Minkman; Philip Reinders; Hans den Brok; many 11th Battalion veterans; family, next of kin and friends; staff of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein Oosterbeek; Airborne Assault Museum Duxford; and Gerrit Pijpers OBE without whom this website would not have been possible.