Introduction

The damage wrought by war can be a lifelong legacy of mental turmoil. Reginald Dack Baker (originally from Norwich) served in the Royal Australian Field Ambulance regiment from August 1914 to near the end of the war. During that time he served in some of the bloodiest theatres of war, including the Western front and Gallipoli.

Returning to Australia after the war, in 1923 he was sectioned and was an patient at the Goodna Asylum in Brisbane. Upon his release he came back to his native city, Norwich and lived there for the rest of his life (dying in the 1960s).

This blog attempts to make some sense of the remarkable collection of six journals he compiled. They betray an obsession with the idea that radio waves were being used to control and kill innocent people. In places there are brief references to his service in WW1. There are also letters from a 'sweet heart' who he left in Australia, Kitty.

For Reginald Dack Baker the legacy of his war years was a life sentence of mental ill-health and obsessive delusion. It is a tragedy.

Monday 22 June 2009

Reginald Dack Baker's Journals


Two of the six volumes in my collection.

A few of years ago I acquired a remarkable collection of books, which provide an insight into the mind of a man who dedicated his life to the proposition that scientists in his lifetime (1889-late '60's/early '70's) were controlling and killing people by means of electronic waves.

The author's name is Reginald Dack Baker (born William Reginald Dack Baker in Norwich in 1889). The six volumes in my possession (I know of the existence of at least one more volume), almost appear to be scrapbooks; being remarkable montages of press cuttings; leaflets; Baker's writings; correspondence (including letters to just about every major British political figure in the early twentieth century - as well as love letters from a woman called Kitty); as well as receipts of payment from former creditors.

This work seems to span a period from the 1920s through to the 1960s, and is in no particular chronological order. Furthermore, there is a good deal of duplication and repitition - which adds to the sense of confusion for the reader.

I like to think that I would have handled this 'story' with respect, no matter what. However, my admiration for Reginald Dack Baker grew immeasurably when, reading more closely I began to realise that he had been on a terrible journey; one that took him to many of the major fields of battle in the First World War (Somme, Gallipoli etc), and, eventually, into an insane asylum in Australia in the early 1920s.

It is also a story connected with my adopted city of residence, Norwich. Although Reginald served in the Royal Australian Ambulance Service, and was resident in Brisbane at the outbreak of war, he was born in Norwich, and returned here in the late 1920s, and lived out the remainder of his life here.

This blog is my - somewhat clumsy - attempt to translate his story. It also offers an opportunity for me appeal to anyone who has any additional information about Mr. Baker to contact me. Accordingly, you can contact me through the comment section of this blog. Your comments are welcome, although I will be using moderation. Alternatively, you can contact me directly by email on howeychoosetouseit@gmail.com 
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