[Published in the newspaper the Semiahmoo Sun and White Rock Weekly, April 30, 1953; clipping image is from the online newspaper collection of the White Rock Museum & Archives at whiterockmuseum.ca. The article references a letter describing a conversation with George Bernard Shaw – this was Baker’s letter of August 16, 1941.]

Local boy receives M.D. this month

The old story of "home-town boy makes good" will be realized on May 12 when Flight Officer James Baker, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Baker, Roper Street, graduates from Dalhousie University in Halifax as Doctor of Medicine. Jim, who is better known as "Spike," joined the army in 1943 and went overseas with the 1st Contingent of the Princess Pats and served with the "Pats" until 1943 at which time he transferred to the Air Force.

During his six and one half years of overseas time, he was hospitalized in the hospital situated on the grounds of Lady Astor, and many times was entertained at the home of this gracious lady. It was during one of these visits that Spike met and talked with George Bernard Shaw, whom he described in a letter to his parents as one of the very great men of modern days.

Jim turned his hand to writing while overseas and many of his articles, letters and some poems were printed in newspapers right across Canada. A Vancouver daily published many, and the White Rock Semiahmoo Sun also carried some of his interesting letters. The hardships of the war as experienced by the civilians so vitally affected in England during the conflict, his impressions of England as a nation, descriptions of the many people who so kindly cared for the Canadian soldiers in billeting, and many other fascinating happenings were recorded by his pen and are now carefully treasured by his parents.

Jim, a graduate of Lord Tweedsmuir High School, will become Flight-Lieutenant when he re-enlists and is posted by the RCAF in June.