Royal Navy – HMS Collingwood
George Adolphus Baldwin was born at Panteg Parish, Monmouthshire on 5 November 1887.
He was the son of James and Hannah Baldwin (née Meredith) and at the time of the Census in 1891, was the seventh of their nine children. James Baldwin was a locomotive driver.
By the time of the 1901 Census George, then aged 14, was living in Gloucester with John and Augusta Heath, his uncle and aunt. There are indications that his parents had died by then.
George left his occupation as a labourer and joined the Royal Navy at Devonport in January 1903, at the age of 15, as a Boy Second Class. He became a Boy First Class in June 1904 and then an Ordinary Seaman from 5 November 1905. His promotion to Able Seaman came on 7 August 1907.
On 26 December 1907 he married Elizabeth Ann Fryer (aged 24 and a domestic servant) at St James’ Church, Gloucester. George was aged 20 and an Able Seaman. The couple had a daughter, Gwynneth Irene Augusta, born in 1911. Her baptismal record shows her address to be Highfield Road, Gloucester and her father ’s occupation as ‘Seaman Gunner’. Another daughter, Rita A J, was born in 1913.
George served on a number of ships (HMS Russell, Forth, Talbot and Caesar) before joining the crew of HMS Collingwood, a ‘St Vincent’ class dreadnought battleship, completed in January 1910. This ship took part in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.
According to the Gloucester Journal of 8 June 1918 (reporting his funeral on 4 June 1918), he was
wounded in the head during the battle and suffered from illness thereafter.
His Service Record states that he was invalided out with an injury to the head on 28 February 1917. He was described as having very good conduct throughout his career.
George’s grave is located in the First World War plot and is marked with a standard CWGC headstone. The Gloucester Journal reported that he left a widow and family.
His Service Record is in the National Archives is under ADM 188/395.