AWARDS
Queen's Service Medal [1992]
New Zealand Sesquicentennial Medal [1990]
New Zealand War Service Medal
Polish Cross of Freedom and Independence [1983]
New Zealand Cross of Merit
Pioneer Cross [1978]
Legion Cross of Merit [1985]
Legion Meritorious Service Medal [1977]
Legion Long Service & Efficiency Medal [1966]
Silver Fern [1972]
Legion 90th Anniversary Medal [1994]
Australian Cross of Merit [1984]
Australian Medal of Merit [1984]
Australian 75th Anniversary Medal [1984]
Canadian Division Distinguished Service Cross [1984]
Canadian Division Efficient Service Medal [1984]
Canadian Division Meritorious Service Medal [1984]
Canadian Division Torchbearers Medal [1984]
Belgian 75th Anniversary Medal
Annand Frontiersman's Service Cross (AFSC) for merit [2007] - (posthumous)
Commandant General's Award
Gold Pioneer Axe [1996]
Silver Pioneer Axe [1977]
NOTES
Born 20 January 1926 New Zealand
Died 28 June 2006 Katikati, New Zealand
Buried Katikati Cemetery, New Zealand (Plot 3200)
BIOGRAPHICAL
Doug Baker joined as a Legion Cadet in 1940, and a Frontiersmen in 1943, thus the years of service as a cadet have been included in his 66 total years of service, It is known that his father and two brothers were also members, and they were held over to become full Frontiersmen till the youngest one was 18, so all three were intiated in the same night. It is known that he was the O.C of Tauranga for many years.
He ran in the elections for Commandant in 1980 at the conference in Tauranga. His tern as Commandant was from 1980 to 1989, but he stood down in the last year of his term after the 1988 conference to appoint his new 2 IC Neil Dalton to take over, to then show the way for the future choice of leadership. Doug instigated the 'Frontiersmen of the Year award' for the 1981 conference and was won by Morris A'Court of 'N' Sqaudron or was it Lyal Bowen,
At the 1986 Conference in Rotorua Doug was elected to become Brigadier in front of 100 odd men. Some say 150 men, but a lot more than we have at our annual conferences these days. This appointment was for life. Later Doug was made Deputy Commandant General (DCG) to the U.K. Command, this was after he stood down as Commandant about 1986, but U.K differs on the date.
Doug Baker is the longest serving Frontiersmen world wide, and since one has to be a cadet, or join at a very young age, to beat him I don't see it will ever happen.
He has over 20 awards including the Queens Service Medal (QSM) the 1990 NZ Sesquicentennail Medal, NZ War Service Medal, and other Legion awards, including Commander in the Knights templar etc.
The Legion has been a passion for him, in fact so much so that the Legion took over the office work at times.
In his term of Commandant he worked with his team to be presented the new colours when many on HQ said it could not be done. He was laughed at, but others told them to listen and so it began, and now we have our colours.
Doug passed over the great divide on 28th June 2006
