John Baker, remembered by his friends
I am a retired R Signals Officer/Soldier, who served with Joe Baker in 216
Para Signal Squadron, Aldershot, between 1969 and 1976.
He and I were Cpls in the same troop, ie. Comms Tp.
Joe was married, with 1 child at that time, both he and his wife came from Barnsley, or round that area. They had a married quarter in Aldershot.
Joe, who was a cigarette smoker, latterly smoked a pipe. His nickname for a while was smokin' joe, (remember Smokin' Joe Frazier the US boxer?). Joe was a keen boxing fan.
His trade was radio operator, but along with me and a few others, we re-qualified to radio
telegraphist, which took 22 weeks at the Trade Training Group, R Signals,
Catterick, in the summer of 1972. There were 3 paras and 3 sas men on the
course, which made for an interesting 10-man barrack-room!
Joe was generally a quiet guy, not afraid to speak his mind on occasion, but
usually he just got on with things and life, went home at the end of the day,
to his family.
He was a good tradesman, a reliable soldier and JNCO, a fit and
able paratrooper. I liked him, he was a good mate to have on your side and a
good operator to work with on radio links.
I sort-of lost touch with him when I left the Bde in early 76. I was posted
to BAOR, I served there and in the UK. In 1982, when you guys were sailing south
to the Falklands, I was RSM of a Signals Regt near Krefeld. At that time I
envied you all the opportunity to experience a real war! With hindsight . . . !?
I was not in a position to know or find-out who, from Para Signals, had gone
south with 2 and 3 PARA, so the news of the deaths of Joe and Mike Forge
together, in a "helicopter accident" came as a shock to me. I also knew Mike
Forge, previously when I was a Cpl and he was a Captain, a Staff Offr in 16
Para Bde HQ.
I found your web site while surfing Ex Red Devils Worldwide and took the
opportunity to say a few words about Joe. There is a big reunion of 216 Para
Sigs types this year in May. Joe will be sadly missed there.
Best wishes,
Richard "Grumpy" Hamilton
Maj(Retd)
late R Signals, & Para Signals
Contributing to the Garden of Remembrance
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