BALDWIN, ALFRED GEORGE
Rank: Private
Regiment: Duke of Wellington's 9th battalion (West Riding Regiment)
Age 19
Date of death 24 March 1918
Service No. 25386

Alfred served as a Private in the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) 9th Battalion. 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. He was wounded & missing presumed dead: 24 March 1918

Alfred was the son of Alfred and Emily Baldwin, of Mersea Rd., Peldon. Prior to serving in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment he had originally joined the Suffolk Regiment with service number 45725 as a private. It was not uncommon for men to be taken from training battalions to serve in other regiments to make good losses. This was particularly true of those pronounced fit after recovering from wounds or illness. His record lists his residence as Kemps Farm, Peldon. He was 18 when he joined on the 19th August 1916. He had a Chest 34 ½ inches was 5 foot 5½ inches tall & weighed 125 lbs.

On joining he was in the reserve 20/8/1916, mobilised 26/3/1917 France 13/9/1917 served 3rd battalion Suffolk Regiment 23/6/1917. He had been home from the 26/3/1917 returning to France 12/9/1917 & was posted to 12th Battalion Suffolks 15/9/1917. He was then transferred to the Duke of Wellington's 9th battalion on the 21/9/1917.

The 9th (Service) Battalion was formed at Halifax, September 1914, as part of K2. As of September 1914 it was attached to 52nd Brigade, 17th (Northern) Division. However his medal card shows that he had started with the Suffolk Regiment as a private service number 45725 7 then been rebadged to the West Riding Regiment possibly after recovering from wounds.

He was entitled to the 1914-1920 British War Medal; 1914- 1919 Victory Medal

Commonwealth War Dead Memorial Reference: Bay 6. Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL

From If you Shed a Tear by Ted Sparrow, Part 3.