Sunset commemoration gives wings to Lee’s nightly prayer
Every night after Lennieve (Lee) Baker says her prayers, she will briefly touch her necklace and think about her departed war hero husband, Maurice Moore.
Maurice served in World War II as a gunner serving in the Royal Australian Airforce’s 406 squadron during the Battle for Britian as the allies inflicted the first major defeat of the German army.
Lee met Maurice in Bridgewater after he had returned from war and his time in the service remained largely shrouded from her during their 30-year marriage.
“He never spoke about his time in the war, and he only kept in touch with a few of his friends from his service years, but they lived interstate,” she said.
“I think he just wanted to live his life, and we had such a wonderful life together.
“I think about him every day.”
Last month, Lee was invited by the Families of Veterans to join other war widows at a sunset wreath laying ceremony at Torrens Parade Ground to mark the 105th anniversary of the RAAF.
“It was so nice to be included and to see the other families there, it was a special service,” she said.
Social co-ordinator for Friends of Veterans WWSA. Diane Carr said it was a priority to get as many family members to commemorative services as possible.
“Now that War Widows SA has joined with the broader community of Families of Veterans, we are excited to offer a range of outings and activities to any War Widows who are interested,” she said.
Lee has lived a remarkable life in South Australia, having grown up across rural South Australia as the family moved with her father’s job on the railways.
After completing her schooling in Port Lincoln, she took up the family business and worked in the railways office before getting married to Maurice.
The family would go on to purchase iconic Adelaide pub the Earl of Leichester where Lee and Maurice would work as they raised their daughter Sally. It was during this time that Maurice gave Lee her necklace that she wears every day.
Maurice died suddenly at just 64 years of age, and Lee started a dress shop on Jetty Road and later joined the local council where she would meet future husband Mel Baker.
Lee and Mel spent 34 years together before moving into ACH Group’s Kapara Mews Retirement Living Village in 2018. Mel later transferred to Kapara Residential Care Home next door where he lived with daily visits from Lee until his death in 2022.
Lee said she was proud that the memory of Maurice and so many others was commemorated and her thoughts were very much with other young Australians who had loved ones serving in the armed forces.
Supporting War Widows living within the ACH Group community
War widows within the ACH Group community and the wider community are welcome to contact Diane directly at [email protected]
This connection helps enable families of veterans to support war widows through attendance at events and commemorations, as well as through social support and advocacy.
