Military service
Age:
24
Rank:
Corporal
Force:
Army
Unit/Regiment:
The Loyal Edmonton Regiment (4th Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry)
Birth:
June 14, 1985
Scarborough, Ontario
Enlistment:
September 24, 2003
Willowdale, Ontario
Death:
February 12, 2010
Kandahar, Afghanistan
Burial/memorial information
Grave reference:
Sec 10, Lot 6244
Additional information
Son of Janet Baker of Ajax, Ontario. Grandson of Lillian Baker of Scarborough, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
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Photo of Joshua Caleb Baker
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario. He was the only child of Janet Baker, a single Mother. Janet raised Joshua with the help of her Mother Lillian Baker. His death has been an absolute horrific nightmare for both of them. The following photos on this site are courtesy of Joshua’s Mother and no one else. -
Joshua Arrives Home
"He's Gone" they said and in that moment my heart shattered into a million pieces and my whole world turned dark. I will love you forever Joshua and miss you until I see you again. Love, Mom -
Joshua In Afghanistan
Love, Mom -
A Gift Of Love
For Joshua's Birthday in 2010 I honoured him by personalizing my license plate. He will always be "Mom's Hero." Love, Mom -
Memorial
For the first 5 years after Joshua was killed I honoured him by orchestrating a Memorial to keep his memory alive. Love, Mom -
Joshua's Faith
Joshua was born and raised a Christian. His faith in the Lord remained very strong throughout the course of his life. Those in Afghanistan always remember seeing Joshua reading his Bible at any given opportunity he had. He was never ashamed of who he was. Love, Mom -
What Was Rightfully Mine
When Joshua was killed his medals and beret were given to someone else at his funeral by the Military. Medals and beret are considered personal belongings. It was clearly stated in Joshua's "Will" that 100 percent of his personal belongings come to me his Mother. I had to fight the Military to have them returned but one year later they were handed to me at his Memorial service. The Military were wrong and so was the individual who chose to keep them until she was told she could not have them. Sadly, the flag that draped Joshua's coffin that the medals and beret were on at Joshua's funeral was never returned. She refused to give it to me. What a nightmare that was for me. -
Joshua's Legacy Begins
Since both Joshua and I attended Ellesmere Statton Public School, I felt it would only be fitting to have his school recognize his sacrifice. After careful planning with the principal, it was decided by me that a Basketball Court would be built and named in his honour. On September 12th, 2013, the new Basketball Court was officially named in honour of my son. I know in my heart Joshua would be so proud. Love, Mom -
A Fitting Tribute To Mom's Hero
This is the full view of Joshua's new Basketball Court done in his honour. Love, Mom -
Photo of Joshua Caleb Baker
This is one of my favourite photos of Joshua while training out west. Love, Mom -
Shattered
It was not my choice to survive without you ... So I choose to live and honour you. I am still standing. Love, Mom -
Ottawa Peace Tower
After much planning and red tape, I was allowed into the Ottawa Peace Tower to see Joshua's name written in the Seventh Book of Remembrance. Normally people are not allowed to touch the book, however the Sergeant-at-Arms was kind enough to loan me one of her gloves so I could actually lay my hand on the book under Joshua's name. As his Mother, this was not the way I wanted Joshua written into Canada's History. I remember just staring at his name as every part of me just wanted to scream at how cruel and unfair this life is. -
The Price A Mother Pays For Love
No matter what anybody says about grief and about time healing all wounds, the truth is, there are certain sorrows that never fade away until the heart stops beating and the last breath is taken. I will love you forever Joshua and miss you until I see you again. Love, Mom -
Special Delivery
Every year I have tried to find unique gifts that represented Joshua's life. I found someone that hand carved Military vehicles and thought this would be an amazing gift for Joshua. I contacted the person who created them who was honoured to ship one up to me for Joshua for Christmas. When I received it, I was very impressed with the detail of this beautiful carving. Love, Mom -
Photo of Joshua Caleb Baker
This picture was taken of Joshua while on duty in Afghanistan. It was one of his favourites. Love, Mom -
Grief Has No Timeline
If you simply cannot understand why someone is grieving so much, for so long, then consider yourself fortunate that you do not understand. There is no greater price a Mother pays than to lose her child. Love, Mom. -
A Painful Reminder Of The Nightmare I Face
I visited Peacekeepers Park in Angus, Ontario. Another Memorial with Joshua's name on it. Love, Mom -
The Horror Of My Reality
Since Joshua was killed the reality of him being gone is completely overwhelming. My body is totally numb and has been that way since I heard he was killed. As I look at Joshua's name I am left speechless as no words could ever describe this nightmare. -
Joshua's Legacy Continues
Joshua was born and raised on Canlish Road, so as his Mother I thought it would be a wonderful legacy for him to have the street named in his honour. I did not want to change the name of the street for that is what Joshua knew it as, but instead I wanted to have his name added above it. After fighting the city for just over 2 years to have this done, my mission was accomplished. On September 18th, 2014 I stood at the intersection of Canlish and Ellendale facing the very home Joshua grew up in as the city dedicated the street in his honour. Love, Mom -
A Second Tribute To Mom's Hero
Joshua, this street is dedicated in honour of you. I know you would be smiling from Heaven at such an amazing Tribute. Love, Mom -
A Very Talented Student Honours Joshua
I went to the school that Joshua attended and asked one of the teachers if she could have a couple of the art classes draw images representing Joshua's life and likes for a Birthday gift in his memory. Here is a beautiful rendition of Joshua from one of the students. What an amazing likeness. I have seen some professional artists work but none captured Joshua's likeness the way this young student did. Love, Mom -
Photo of Joshua Caleb Baker
Joshua in his element. He thrived on every challenge put before him. He was an amazing soldier who I will always be so very proud of. Love, Mom -
Family
This picture is of Joshua and his Grandmother, my Mother, Lillian Baker. My Mother and I were Joshua's only surviving blood family. My Mother played a large part in helping me raise Joshua. She also helped instill his strong Christian faith. I will always be grateful to my Mother for everything she did for Joshua. Love, Mom -
Memorial
This is the fifth Memorial I had done for Joshua where I had invited people. After much soul searching I had decided to now stop the open invitation. I was tired of the revolving door of people that came in and out of my life with no regard for my pain and heartache. I was exhausted with people taking me aside and telling me what people really thought of Joshua and I but still would show up for the Memorials. To me this made no sense. The lies and hypocrisy was incredibly overwhelming. The final straw for me was when someone in the Military told me point blank "Joshua is old news now, we have new wars." I was angry that someone in the Military would actually say that about a fallen soldier. To me it felt like no one cared that Joshua gave his life for his country. I was done with Memorials after that.
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Joshua Caleb Baker
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 237 of the In the Service of Canada, Vol. I (1947 – 2014) Book of Remembrance.
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TORONTO (PINE HILLS) CEMETERY Ontario, Canada
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Learning resources
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