John William BALDWIN

08 January 1915

SILSDEN

Private J. W. Baldwin, of the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, writes:- "Just a few lines to let you know that I received your very welcome Christmas present and to thank you very much for it. I received it on the 22nd, but I have not had time to answer before now as we are fighting in the trenches and we have not had much time. I was glad, however, to think that you in Silsden are thinking about us for it makes us think of the dear old homeland and cheers us up a good deal. I hope you will remember us out here and pray that the war will soon be over and that we may get safely back home again."

05 February 1915

SOLDIER'S LETTER FROM THE FRONT

Mrs. J. W. Baldwin, of 6, Chapel Lane, Silsden, has received a letter from her husband, Private J. W. Baldwin, of the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who is fighting in the trenches at the front. He states: "I think I am fortunate enough to get through all right. I shall have earned a bit of comfort. You must know we are always in danger day and night. I have seen a good few knocked over, but thank God I have been lucky up to now and hope to be so to the finish. One never knows, but it is always best to be prepared, for we are not always lucky. We can only hope for the best, because we have our duty to perform at whatever cost. Cheer up, it cannot last for ever! When it is finished we will make up for this lot. If you have got the Christmas gift I received from Princess Mary and afterwards dispatched to you, I hope you will take good care of it as it is very valuable to me. Included in the box was a pipe, but I have kept that back for my own use. My health is quite good, and I hope you are all well."

In a more recent letter to his wife (Saturday last) Private Baldwin states:- "We have come out of the trenches and gone back ten miles for six days' rest. We have had a very rough time for the last three days in the trenches, for the Germans were shelling us nearly all the time. The trench that I was in was blown up in front. We all escaped but one. The Germans were even in a worse plight than us for we could see their trenches and our gunners were dropping shells into them all day long, so they must have suffered very heavily. We were glad to get out last night for a few days, but of course we shall go back again when our time has expired. I wish you would send me a parcel of anything you like. A few sweets with mint in and chocolates would be very acceptable for everybody seems to get these things out here. You can put some of those hot sweets in for a cold and anything you think of, and above all do not forget to put a packet of matches in the parcel, because they are more precious than gold."

26 February 1915

SILSDEN SOLDIER'S LETTER

In a recent letter to his parents, who reside at 16, Daisy Hill, Silsden, Private John W Baldwin, of the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment, who is at present fighting at the front, says: -

"Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter and parcel, which I got all right on the night of the 7th inst. I am now in the trenches but our ten days are up on the 11th, when we go back again for five days rest, and clean up. That is how we go on, ten or fourteen days in the trenches, and five or six days out, so you see we get a bit of rest now and again; otherwise we could not stand it. As you know we get little or no rest when we are in the trenches, either during the day or at night, because we keep loading and blazing away at anything we can see protruding from the German trenches. In some places we are quite near each other - only about 40 yards away; in others we are about 200 yards apart. The trenches are pretty fair at night, for it is seldom the artillery fire during the night, but they shell us all day long, an our artillery is shelling them too. We are subjected to most danger from artillery fire, but our artillery is superior to that of the Germans. I have watched through my port hole shell after shell drop into the German trenches, and, of course, we got some of their shells in our trenches, but most of them either fall short or go over the top of us. Shells are a terrible thing. You can hear them coming a mile away, but you cannot tell where they are coming and all you can do is get well down and trust to luck, for if they drop anywhere within 20 yards there is an extreme likelihood that someone is going home. In spite of their danger you seem to lose fear of them after a while and just duck your head when one is coming. I must now conclude as I am going on the look out."

05 March 1915

LETTER FROM THE TRENCHES

In a recent letter to his brother, Mr. Arthur Baldwin, 1, Albert Square, Silsden, Private J. Baldwin, of the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment, who is at present fighting in the trenches at the Front, says:-

"Just a line in answer to your welcome letter. We are getting plenty of hard work, and trench fighting, but I think we are getting the better the Germans all along the line and it might not be so long before the war is over. We shall be glad, I can assure you, to get back to the dear homeland again. I am not allowed to disclose the place where I am, but if you take notice of this letter you will be able to guess, for you have some of the people in Silsden. It is simply awful to see this place, for every town and village nearly are blown in bits. We have just had a very bad hour of it; the Germans have been bombarding our trenches and because of that I had to stop writing this letter as the shells were flying all around us and they have knocked the front of the trench in where I am. I have not seen Ben Hodgson for about a fortnight as he does not belong to my company; therefore, we seldom get together. I see W. Broadhead pretty often, and he is getting along all right."

The names referred to are of other Silsden soldiers who are fighting at the Front.

26 March 1915

A SILSDEN SOLDIER'S LETTER TO HIS PARENTS

The parents of Private J. W. Baldwin, of the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who reside as 16 Daisy Hill, Silsden, have recently received a letter from their son which reads as follows: -

"Just a few lines in answer to your welcome letter hoping to find you all well. I am at present in the best of health, and we are just now 11 miles back from the trenches on a 6 days' rest after being in them 16 days. You will therefore see that I have not had much time lately to write to you. We go back in the trenches on the 14th of March, so I shall be back before you receive this letter. We have had it very rough this last week or two but I have come out again without a scratch. I suppose you will have heard about poor Ben Hodgson; I was very much upset about it; but poor Ben, he never felt it, for was shot in the head and was dead when he fell. I was not so far away at the time, but I could not leave my post to go down or I would have assisted in his interment - or at least have been there. I have just received a letter from Mr. C. H. Fletcher in which he asks for any photo, but I have not got it, so I will send you the letter, and then my photo can be given to Mr. Frank Driver. I would not like to be left out of the group as I think I have earned being on it."

The reference to the photo is in regard to a collection of all Silsden soldiers which is being undertaken, and it is proposed to have them retaken in group form.

The Horrors of Shell Fire

In a letter to Mr. George Bradley, of Daisy Hill, Silsden, Private Baldwin says:-

"I should like to get through all right now after I have gone through so much, but you know if it is God's will that I should be hit, well I shall just have to put up with it. As you know duty is duty, and I try my best to do my bit as well as I can. I just pot away at the Germans as quick as I can and to hit as many as I can, for you know the more we hit the sooner will the war be over. I shall not be sorry when it is over, for I have had enough fighting. This war is not like the South African War: it is a cruel war, and I cannot make you understand what it is like being under shell fire. It is simply awful. It is very doubtful whether it is possible to get used to shell fire: I cannot, and I have not come across one who has yet. I should very much like to have been at the Memorial Service at the Silsden Parish Church for Ben Hodgson who died like a soldier and without pain."

30 April 1915

VIVID DESCRIPTION OF HILL 60 FIGHT

Private J. W. Baldwin, of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, who was wounded in the Hill 60 fight, and who is now in Rosherville Hospital, Gravesend, Kent, has sent a letter to his parents who reside at Daisy Hill, Silsden, in which he says:- "I am very glad that I am in England again for believe me on Sunday when we kept charging the German trenches I gave up all hope of ever seeing England or any of you again. After I was wounded, which would be about seven o'clock at night, I had to go two miles to the dressing station under shellfire all the time. Sometimes I was creeping and other times running. There were five of us together who eventually got to the dressing station. I saw Willie Broadhead, another Silsden soldier, about six o'clock on Sunday morning as our Company was passing theirs, and we shouted out 'Good-bye.' I did not see him afterwards, but I hope he got through all right. I shall remember Hill 60 at Ypres as long as I live."

In a letter received by his brother, Mr. A. Baldwin, 1, Albert Square, Silsden, on Wednesday, Private Baldwin says:- "I can always say that I did my best as I believe every man in the Regiment did. As for the officers we have officers in the British Army I can tell you. There is no shirking; they are always in front; but we lost all our officers, or nearly all, even to the old colonel."

10 November 1916

A SILSDEN ABSENTEE

John Wm. Baldwin, soldier, of Silsden, pleaded guilty to being an absentee from the West Riding Regiment and was remanded to await a military escort.

01 June 1917

BALDWIN - May 28th 1917, in a Military Hospital in Derby, after active service in France, Pte. John Wm. Baldwin, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Baldwin, Daisy Hill, Silsden, aged 44 years.

01 June 1917

SILSDEN SOLDIER DIES IN HOSPITAL

Pte. John Wm. Baldwin of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, husband of Mrs. Baldwin, Chapel Lane, Silsden, and son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Baldwin, 16 Daisy Hill, Silsden, died on Monday at a Military Hospital in Derby, where he had been for some time. Pte. Baldwin, who was 44 years of age, was a time expired man at the outbreak of war, but enlisted in August 1914, going out to France in November of the same year. He was wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shrapnel in April 1915 during the severe fighting in the vicinity of Hill 60. Returning to England he was admitted to hospital at Gravesend, London. His health has since been broken down, and he has spent most of his time in hospital. His wife and mother visited him at Derby last weekend, and were there when his death took place. Pte. Baldwin had seen service in India, and also went through the South African campaign. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Clegg and Houghton's malleable iron foundry, Lawkholme Lane, Keighley. He has another brother serving in the Forces, Driver Herbert Baldwin, who is attached to the R.F.A. The body was conveyed to Silsden where the funeral took place yesterday afternoon. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. E.E. Peters, M.A., vicar. The funeral was attended by a firing party from Halifax who fired a number of volleys over deceased's grave. The funeral was witnessed by a large number of people. Among the floral tributes sent was one from the nursing staff and patients at the hospital where he died.

15 June 1917

IN MEMORY OF SEVEN SILSDEN FALLEN HEROES

There was a large congregation at the Parish Church on Sunday morning last, when a service was held in memory of seven young men from Silsden who have recently paid the great sacrifice for King and Country.

The service was conducted by the Vicar (Rev. E. E. Peters, M.A.,) who said they were met that morning, when all nature seemed to speak of joy and gladness, under very solemn and sad circumstances to pay their tribute of respect and affection to the memory of seven gallant men who had given their lives for their country. They were:- Private Fred Hardy, Private Edgar Raw, Private Harry Wade, Private William Burton, Private Willie Saddington, Private John William Baldwin, and Private Charles Henry Gill.

By their presence and by taking part in that service, they gave some expression of the heartfelt sympathy which they felt with the sorrowing relatives.

Private Fred Hardy had not been resident a great many years in Silsden, but he had gained many friends by reason of his cheerful disposition and his pleasant and amiable manners. When the call came he left his wife and his happy and comfortable home to go forth in order to do his duty. They knew how he was wounded, brought to a Casualty Clearing Station, and how for some days there was terrible anxiety as to how the balance would turn. During that time he either wrote himself, or dictated to the good and sympathetic chaplain, most brave and cheerful letters in which he thought of his wife, not at all of himself. He derived great comfort from the consolation of religion, and the chaplain was able to write to his wife and assure her how he died in the faith and fear of Jesus Christ.

Private Edgar Raw was one who gave an early answer when the call first came. He had not the pleasure of knowing him personally, but everyone spoke in the very highest terms of him. He was a most excellent young man, active in religious work, and left behind him a fragrant memory.

He then came to one whose loss had been a peculiarly intimate one to him as well as a personal sorrow, for he knew him well, and like everyone else who knew him, he had a great regard for him. He referred to Private Harry Wade, a young man of great promise and blameless character, a true simple-hearted Christian and loyal Churchman, and a regular communicant to whom he had had the great privilege of administering on more than one occasion since he joined the Army the Holy Sacrament. He was a young man, home loving and home keeping; yet, one who felt it his duty to volunteer to defend his country. Although he had no taste for military life, he nevertheless made a thoroughly good soldier, and one of whom his officer spoke in the very highest terms. His officer said he showed great capability, was always reliable and trustworthy, and one whom he could chose to do important work and knew it would be carried out well. Now he had gone to the home above and left them a very heavy loss indeed.

Private William Burton, who was probably not known to a great many of them, was held in high esteem by those who knew him. He was the gardener at Moorfield, and a man who was thoroughly efficient in his work and took a great delight in it. He, too, was very comfortable in his home with his wife and two children, and had gained the confidence and esteem of his employer. He and three other men were killed going to the trenches by a German shell.

Then he came to one who was well known to all of them - Private Willie Saddington - a young man who was brought up in their Sunday School. He had the distinction, as was generally known, of being one of the five soldiers in Silsden who, at mobilisation, was called up to the Colours at the very beginning of the war. He believed his father was also one of the original five. He had honourable military traditions in his family, and since the war broke out - he was a Territorial, as they knew - he at once volunteered for active service. He was kept back in England for some time on account of being a member of a military band, and at last he went out and had not been long at the Front before he fell doing his duty honourably and gallantly.

Private John Wm. Baldwin was a man much older than those of whom he had spoken. He was a soldier of that grand Army - the old original regular Army. He had served his country in South Africa, served his time in the reserves; a man time expired when the war broke out, and well above age, but still he volunteered to join the Colours again. He was one of those who during the first terrible months of the war maintained our cause against desperate odds. He was wounded at Hill 60 of bloody memory, the scene last week of our great and glorious victory. He never recovered entirely from his wounds, his health having been grievously affected, and he died at the military hospital at Derby, where he had gained the affection of the staff. He was laid to rest in that Parish Churchyard with military honours in the presence of a large and sympathetic congregation.

It was only the previous week that they heard of the death of Private Charles Henry Gill, one whom the stern necessity of cruel war had made into a soldier. He was a young man of retiring disposition, reserved in his manners to the general public, but one full of family affection, and devoted to his home. He had fallen a victim to the monster, called into being by the Prussian lust of conquest.

He wished to speak of three more of their young men who were in a somewhat different category to those he had already mentioned. He hoped they would not have to mourn them as gone, and prayed that good news might come concerning them. They had all been reported missing:- Sergeant Charles W. Newns, Private Norman Phillip, and Private Jack Riley.

They were all intimately connected with that place of worship, having been taught in their Sunday School. Sergeant Newns was one of the most promising young men they had. He was a splendid young man, a good Sunday School teacher, and a gymnast and athlete. He naturally made a very fine soldier and gained the highest testimony from his officers and also from the men he commanded. The last they had heard of him was that he was seen risking his life for a wounded man. They prayed that it might be the will of Almighty God to restore those men to them, as they could ill afford to lose them. He wished on his own behalf, and on behalf of all of those present, to express deep sympathy with those in great sorrow and affliction. It was hard to express in anything like adequate terms what they felt. They all realised that the inequality of sacrifice was one of the sad things of their life - that some had to sacrifice so much while others, whether they were willing or unwilling, were not called upon to make sacrifices of like character. But he assured them that they appreciated in the most complete manner the offerings of their sons and the husbands and of those so near and dear to them, which had been made in the cause of righteousness and truth.

During the service the hymns, 'The saints on earth and those above', 'On the resurrection morning', and 'O God our help in ages past', were sung.

There was a company of Girl Guides present at the service, in charge of the vicar's wife.

The bells were also muffled as a token of respect to the fallen.