Trafford

Born during the December quarter 1891 in the Stockport R.D. - ref: 8a/43,
the son of Richard & Annie Beatrice Baldwin (nee Gibbons).

At the time of the 1891 census, his parents were rsiding at 362 Gorton
Road, Reddish, which is probably where Arthur was born later that year.  
Head of household - Richard Baldwin - Married - aged: 30 - occ: Gas
Inspector - born: Chorlton upon Medlock, Manchester.   Also Annie Beatrice
Baldwin - Wife - aged: 25 - born: Brooklands.    Plus their one year old
daughter, also called Annie Beatrice.

His father - Richard Baldwin died on the 19th December 1894, aged just 34,
leaving Annie alone to bring up their two children.

1901 Census - Teachers Orphanage, West Hill, Lewisham, London.    Inmate -
aged: 9 - Scholar - born: Manchester.   His widowed mother was residing at
27 Era Street, Sale - aged: 35 - occ: Elementary School Teacher - born:
Sale.   Plus his younger brother - Frank - aged: 7.

1911 Census - 49 Hope Road, Sale.    Son - aged: 19 - occ: Junior Clerk -
born: Reddish.    Head of household - Annie Beatrice Baldwin - Widow -
aged: 45 - occ: Certified Teacher - born: Brooklands.    Plus 1 his younger
brother, Frank and his maternal grandfather.

Member of St. Anne's F.C. and Sale Moor C.C.    Secretary of the Sale
Weslyan Guild; also a Sunday School Teacher.    Employed at Manchester Town
Hall.

WO363 - Enlisted from 49 Hope Road, Sale on the 7th September 1914 and
posted into the 4th City Battalion (19th Battalion), Manchester Regiment.  
Occupation: Clerk - Height: 5 feet, 9½ inches - Weight: 128 lb - Expanded
chest: 38 inches with a 3 inch expansion.- Complexion: Swarthy - Eyes: Dark
Hazel - Hair: Black.    On the 4th April 1915, whilst stationed at Heaton
Park, Manchester, he went AWOL from 12.00 midnight to 21.30 hrs on the 5th,
for which he was "admonished".   On the 18th April 1915, again at Heaton
Park, he was late for Divine Service and received 3 days C.B (confined to
barracks).   Promoted to paid Lance Corporal on the 17th July 1915. 
Drafted to France, embarking on the S.S. Queen Alexander at Southampton on
the 7th November 1915.    Promoted to Corporal in the field on the 8th.   

Killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme 1916.   The 19th
Battalion, Manchester Regiment were part of the 21st Brigade, 30th Division
and they attacked the Glatz Redoubt, a heavily fortified German position
some 700 yards in front of the village of Montauban.  The attack was timed
to begin at 07.30 and when the whistles sounded they left their trenches
for the 1,500 yard walk across a badly churned up 'no mans land'.

His Mother was a Teacher at Springfield Road School and wrote to the local
newspaper asking for news of her son who was reported as being missing.

Death reported in the 04/08/1916 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

On the 27th June 1917, his mother wrote to the Battalion, that her son had
a valuable ring with his monogram on.   She hoped that it would be returned
to her in due course.

Commemorated on he family gravestone in Sale Cemetery - G.1366.   Listed in
the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1917.

Private John Wright who served in the 19th Battalion kept a diary.  John
also went to France on the 7th November 1915 and his diary record will be
much like the experiences of Arthur up until the 1st July 1916.

See:- http://www.themanchesters.org/19th%20batt.htm

His brother Frank survived the War - in 1919 he was listed as a demobilised
2nd Lieutenant Royal Field Artillery.  An earlier reference mentions that
he was then a Signaller in the Sussex Yeomanry???    His uncles were
Herbert & Charles William Gibbons.