SUMMARY OF THE BOOK

This book is a compilation of letters written by the author - Dr. James Baker, (principally) to his parents during World War II. He joined the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in September 1939, went Overseas with them that December and served with them as an ordinary Private until mid-1942, at which time he transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force. He ended the war as a Navigator-Bombardier on heavy bombers, flying with the Thunderbird Squadron of the 6th Canadian Group. He flew a total of twenty-three bombing raids over Europe by V-E Day. He then volunteered for duty with the Canadian contingent which was to join the Americans in the bombing of Japan, but V-J day ended WWII while he was still in Canada training for his new mission. So these letters cover the entire period of WWII: from September 1939 to January 1946.

Two Important Facts of Interest to the Public

There is very little "blood `n guts" of war in these letters - although there is enough to satisfy the reader who desires the vicarious thrill of reading of someone else's adventures. Rather, the reader experiences Wartime England through the eyes of a naive, young man who was most privileged to live among the people (both the small and the great) as few who served in England at that time were able to do. This book records his observations, his thoughts, his dreams and reactions to the wartime-life flowing all about him.

Why Did I Write The Book?

I did not "write" the book: rather, the book wrote itself since it is a series of letters to loved one at "home". My daughter - Suzanne, compiled and annotated them to produce the book you now hold in your hands.

What Do I Want People to "Take Away" From Reading My Book?

I want people to recognize and appreciate the greatness of the ordinary British men and women who stood STEADFAST when their world seemed to be crumbling into dust all about them. It was their steadfastness throughout the years 1939-1943 which saved our Canadian and American way of life, for they held the Nazi war-machine at bay until the might of America could be mobilized to crush the tyranny threatening to overwhelm the world. I want to remind everyone – but more particularly the present generation of young people, of the great debt we owe to the British people. We should never forget their quiet courage in the face of seemingly overwhelming might and their refusal to “buckle under” to the threats that faced them. They were the “Horatios’ who held the bridge” for all of us during those dark years.

What Do I Want People To Know About Myself?

I am just an ordinary citizen who was privileged to observe and participate – however marginally, in great events.

After the war,like so many of my contemporaries, I was able to complete my education through the Veteran’s programme for Servicemen and women. I graduated as a Doctor from Dalhousie University in Halifax N.S. in 1953 and rejoined the RCAF as a Medical Officer. I became a ‘Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada’ in 1964 and continued to practise my specialty of General Surgery in the Canadian Armed Forces until I “retired” in 1972 as a Wing Commander (Lt. Col. in the amalgamated Forces). Since that retirement, I continued to practise my specialty in both Canada and Saudi Arabia until my final retirement to my seaside home in Victoria B.C. in 1984. I am now fully retired from the practise of medicine – but not from the practise of life: I live quietly with my wife of fifty seven years with all our four children about us – content to “bask in the liquid sunshine of this ‘Little Eden’ on the West Coast”.