Henry William Baldry

A Lance Corporal with 7th Bn., Henry died on 3rd of April 1916 at the age of 26. 

Henry was born at Lowestoft in 1890, a son of Frederick John and Hannah Baldry. In 1891 his family lived at 60 Tonning Street, Lowestoft, and by 1901 at 16 Haward Street, Lowestoft. In 1911 his family lived at 55 Haward Street and Henry was a house painter.  

On 19 December 1912 Henry married Maud Strange at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. Henry was a painter living at 55 Haward Street and Maud lived at 30 Police Station Road. Later they, and Henry's parents, lived at 93 Stanley Street, Lowestoft. Maud married Edward Ruddick in 1917.

Before enlisting Henry worked with the Post Office. 

Henry enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft. Initially he served with the Royal Army Medical Corps, number 55275, before being transferred to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, number 20048. He was posted to the 7th Battalion and arrived in France on 10 December 1915.

The 7th Battalion war Diary does not give very much detail about the Battalion's activities, in the Voormezele defences, between 20 March and 4 April 1916, but has:

On night of 19/20 March the Battalion relived 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers and took over the sector less U.23. Quiet time until 27th March. On the night of 26/27 March we shortened our front to U.27 and U.28 only. The 8th East Yorks being on our immediate right. And the 9th Brigade on the right of the 8th Brigade. . . At 4.15 a.m. we exploded several mines in front of the Mount at St. Eloi and the 9th Brigade stormed and captured this position. Our artillery opened an intense bombardment lasting for about an hour to which the enemy vigorously replied. The area from behind the U Sector and the trenches themselves were heavily shelled on this and subsequent occasions during this time. We were relieved by the 27th Canadian Regiment, less machine-gun section, on the night of 3/4 April. 

Henry's name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes

Henry's brother Thomas died in 1916 whilst serving with the 9th Battalion Suffolk Regiment and his brother Frederick died in 1917 whilst serving with the 11th Suffolk Regiment.