Name
George Edward Baldwin
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
738040
London Regiment *1
24th (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
METZ-EN-COUTURE COMMUNAL CEMETERY BRITISH EXTENSION
Plot III, Row F, Grave 17.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Michael and All Angels Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Post Office Memorial, Rickmansworth Urban District Memorial, St. Mary’s Church Memorial, Rickmansworth, Oddfellows Memorial, Rickmansworth
Pre War
Son of Edwin and Isabella Alice (nee SHARP) BALDWIN; husband of Mary Ann (nee CHILD) BALDWIN.
His parents married 12 April 1884 at St Mary’s, Rickmansworth, Herts. Edwin died 1919 in Watford aged 55, and was buried 1 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Isabella died 1941 in Oxhey, Herts, aged 78, and was buried 23 August, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
George was born 27 May 1890 in Rickmansworth, and baptised 14 September 1890 at St Mary’s, Rickmansworth. He married 28 August 1915 at St Peter’s, Mill End, Herts; they had one child. Mary never remarried, and died 25 December 1964 in Watford aged 74.
On the 1891 Census, aged 10 months he lived in Rickmansworth, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, aged 10 he still lived in Rickmansworth, with his parents and seven siblings. On the 1911 Census, a postman aged 20, he still lived in Rickmansworth, with his parents and six siblings.
His father was a Labourer and in both 1901 and 1911 the family were living at 110 Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth.
On the 28th of August 1915 George Edward, described as a Soldier, married Mary Ann Child at St Peter’s Church, Mill End. George was living at 28 Holywell Road, Watford and Mary at 21 Church Lane, Mill End. Their daughter, Mary, was born in 1918 after George’s death. Mary Ann did not remarry and in 1939 was living 36 Springwell Avenue with Alfred H Child age 62, Widower, Builder’s Labourer (her brother) Sarah M Child age 82 (their mother) recorded as “incapacitated”, and Gertrude E Anger age 37 a Needleworker.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London, and was formerly Private 3871 1st/8th (City of London) Battalion London Regiment (Post Office Rifles). He arrived in France on 11th November 1915
On the 21st of March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring offensive on a wide front. The objective was to break through the allied lines and then drive north west toto seize the channel ports. Fighting was fierce and both sides took heavy casualties, but by late April the danger of a German breakthrough had passed.
George probably died in the early stages of the battle in the La Vacquerie sector. George's brother Edwin died of wounds on the 23rd of April 1917. A second brother, John Edwin, served in France in 1916/17 but survived. A cousin, also John Edwin, was killed in action early in the war on the 24th of October 1914.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, George’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is a brief article about and a Death announcement for George in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 27 April 1918; plus an In Memoriam in the issue dated 22 March 1919. His brother Edwin died 23 April 1917 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London) Bn. London Regiment (The Queens's).
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Tanya Britton, Mike Collins
