Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon | 7 | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.116 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 36C GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Early Life :
Born 1871, son of Alfred and Julia Baldwin, of Southsea, Portsmouth, formerly of Montrose House, South WimbledonHe married Alice Baldwin 6th October 1895
By 1911, Alfred was living at Beals Mill,Stoke Climsland, Cornwall and is a Royal Marines Pensioner, working as an Auxiliary Postman. The family were living with 2 children having lost one and one elsewhere.
Family :
Wife: Alice Greedy nee Dyke, of 12 Newport St., Stonehouse and later of 2, Walkham Terrace, Horrabridge, Devon.Son: Frederick C. E. Baldwin b.1900- Born Stonehouse, Devon
Dau: Alice F.L. b.1909- Born Devonport, Devon.
Education & Career :
Career soldier
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: Plymouth Bn. R.N. Div. RMLI |
| Action : Gallipoli |
The Gallipoli Campaign was fought on the Gallipoli peninsula 25th April 1915 to 9th January 1916. in a failed attempt to defeat Turkey by seizing the Dardanelles and capturing Istanbul. Ill-conceived and planned, the initial effort by the Royal Navy failed to force passage through the Dardanelles by sea power alone. It was then realised that a land force was needed to support the project by suppressing the Turkish mobile artillery batteries. By the time all was ready the Turks were well aware and well prepared. Despite amazing heroics on the day of the landings only minor beachheads were achieved and over the succeeding 8 months little progress was made. Eventually the beachheads were evacuated in a series of successful ruses.
Despite Gallipoli rightly becoming a national source of pride to Australians and New Zealanders, far more British casualties were sustained, and these days the substantial French contribution is almost forgotten.
He was discharged from service after having completed a full Length of Service (21 years) 3rd August 1910, but nearly immediately enrolled Royal Fleet Reserve 18th September 1910. Recalled for service and served with Plymouth Bn. at Dunkirk & Defence of Antwerp 1914 and with the Plymouth Bn. No.4 Company Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF) 6/2/15-4/3/15.
1914 Star was issued to his widow on 8/8/19, Clasp, BWM & Victory medal not issued/claimed.
Detail :
Alfred BALDWIN was the first RND Casualty on the Gallipoli Peninsular as part of a landing party operating within the 'Navy Only' original plan to take the Dardenelles. This predated the main landings that took place on 25th April 1915. No doubt that the time elapsed between the 4th March and the main landings nearly 7 weeks later offered the Turks the opportunity to prepare.
The Diary of Lieutenant C.R.W. Lamplough RM (age 19), Platoon Commander, No.4 Company Plymouth Bn. 4/3/15 states:- Well this has been the day of my life. We were called at 5am. I had breakfast at 6.30am and got onto the destroyers at 7am and sailed off at 18 knots. When we got just off Sedd ul Bahr the fleet started bombarding like blazes. It looked very nice and as if we should have no opposition. Well, we got into our cutters and finally got ashore and everything looked in our favour. The patrols got out and went up the cliff. One went to the top through the fort and the others straight up. When they got to the top they got it thick - Poor old Baldwin was very soon caught. He got one through the head and died a little time after. Then we had a good deal of firing. I finally found we could not get up there as they were in the ruined houses sniping us, so we found where they were. I came down to the beach and signalled which houses we wanted shelling and they let them have it. Then I took my patrol up and we did not have much opposition. Dickinson got hit in the leg and had to be taken off but he is alright - but Jones of 14 Platoon was killed and also Dyter of 13 Platoon. We had quite a nice little scrap and then they sent a lot of shrapnel over, but they did not get us. A sniper killed one man in the picket boat. We found several Turks, some dead and one wounded, and sent for a stretcher party. The old fool flung himself off the stretcher down the cliff - he died on the way to the Braemar. We got back about 3.30pm having had nothing to eat since 6.15am? I quite enjoyed the day although we were lucky to get out as we did, three dead and one wounded. (Diary courtesy of Matthew Little, RM Museum). The man mentioned as killed in the picket boat was Ch/189635 Petty Officer William John Eagle Newland RN, Cutters Crew, HMS Lord Nelson. Buried at Sea 5/3/15. Lieutenant Lamplough was awarded the DSC for the Zeebrugge Raid in April 1918:- Was in the Marine storming party. In spite of great difficulties, showed the greatest dash and determination in leading his men. He covered the retirement with great resource. PLY/4690(RFR/A/880) Clr.Sgt. Alfred Barnett BALDWIN R.M.L.I. No.4 Company, Plymouth Battalion, R.N.D. Died of wounds at Sedd-ul-Bahr (GSW Head) 4th March 1915. Plymouth Naval Memorial (MR 2)
Sources:http://www.cwgc.co.uk/RNDplaquesB.htm
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Western District United Service No. 2258 E.C. | Devonshire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
15th March 1905 | 19th April 1905 | 17th May 1905 |
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley