Joseph William BALDWIN (1889-1941)

Private Joseph William Baldwin (1889-1941) served in the 9th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and was rescued by Cyril Sladden on the field of battle in August 1915.

Joseph Baldwin was born in 1889, the fourth of eight surviving children of Joseph Henry Baldwin, a gardener’s labourer, and his wife, Annie.  The family lived on Cowl Street, Evesham.  Joseph Junior became a gardener’s labourer like his father.

Soon after the outbreak of war, Joseph enlisted at Evesham with the Worcestershire Regiment on 8th September 1914.  Private Baldwin (17902) arrived in the Dardanelles on the 4th July 1915 and was soon engaged in fierce action.  He was wounded and had given up all hope of survival but was rescued by Cyril Sladden.  This was reported an Evesham Journal edition of September 1915.  Alfred Lambourne King, who knew Cyril’s father, Julius Sladden, through the freemasons, wrote to Julius to praise him for his son’s courage, as he had heard about the brave action through his cleaning-lady who was related to Private Baldwin.

In 1920, Joseph Baldwin married Margaret Ethel Grove at Evesham.  Joseph died at Evesham in 1941, aged 52, and was buried at Waterside Cemetery.  His widow later married Malcolm Perkins; she died in 1983.