Private Arthur Joseph Baker
- Rank
- Private
- Service number
- WX8720
- Unit
- 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion
- Cause of death
- Died as Prisoner of War
- Place of death
- South China Sea
- Date of death
- 12 September 1944
- Age
- 30
- Plaque number
- L308A
- Co-located plaques
- L308 - PTE Arnold Cousins
- Dedicated by
- Family Relations on 15 August 2015
- More information
Biography presented during plaque dedication:
Private Arthur Joseph Baker of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion was born in Coolgardie Western Australia on 13 January 1914 to Ellen and Arthur Baker.
In his growing years, Arthur attended St Anthony’s convent and in his out-of-school time enjoyed tennis, rifle shooting and motor bike racing.
He was very mechanically-minded, to the point where he built an aluminium race car body and installed a used motor cycle engine in it.
He successfully applied for a position with the Goldfields Public Works Division and enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 23 October 1940, following the declaration of war.
Posted to the 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion their initial training was carried out in Blackboy Hill Military Camp before a move to Northam camp.
With war looming in the Pacific, the battalion executed their famous march from Northam to Fremantle to join their troop ship bound for Singapore.
The Japanese swept through Malaya to Singapore in 70 days and, despite a desperate last stand, the survivors of the 2/4th were taken as prisoners of war.
In 1944, after years building the Burma railway under the Japanese it was decided they were needed in Japan and they were loaded aboard the Rakuyo Maru which sailed for Japan.
With no identification that she was a POW ship, the Rakuyo Maru was attacked by an American submarine on 12 September 1944.
Sinking rapidly, the crew saved themselves leaving the POWs locked in the holds.
Private Arthur Joseph Baker, service number WX8720 of 2/4 Machine Gun Battalion, died as a prisoner of war in the South China Sea on 12 September 1944.
He was 30 years of age and is listed on the Labuan Memorial, Labuan.