Spencer Baldry
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Spencer Baldry was born in 1896 in Nottingham and was the son of Spencer Baldry (senior) and Agnes Ellen Baldry née Kell. His father Spencer (senior) was born in 1869 in Lincoln and his mother Agnes Helen/Ellen Kell was born in 1867 in Boston, Lincolnshire. They were married in 1894 (A/M/J Nottingham). Spencer and his family were living in Nottingham in the parish of St Mary's in 1891. In 1901 Spencer (32) an accountant and estate agent, and Agnes (34) were living at 38 Manor Street, Sneinton, with their son Spencer (5) and Spencer's widowed mother, Ann Baldry (66). Spencer's mother, Agnes Ellen, died aged 35 yrs on 14th February 1903 at the family home on Manor Street, Sneinton; she was buried in Nottingham Church Cemetery. His father Spencer (senior) married his second wife Isabella Mary Lowie (b1875 Leith, Midlothian) in 1905 in Nottingham. They went on to have two children, Edward William born West Bridgford 1908 (J/A/S Basford) and Cecilia, also born in West Bridgford, in 1910 (O/N/D Basford). In the 1911 census the family are living at 89 Ella Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, and are shown as Spencer 41yrs an accountant and estate agent he is living with his wife Isabella Mary 36 yrs and his children Spencer 14 yrs a scholar, Edward William 2 yrs and Cecilia 6 months. The family later lived at 16 Devonshire Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham. Spencer's father died on 15 September 1936 aged 65; he was still living at 16 Devonshire Road. His stepmother Isabella Baldry died on 19 August 1948 aged 74; she was then living on Mansfield Road, Nottingham.
Spencer Baldry enlisted in Nottingham on 3rd September 1914, he was 19 yrs and 120 days old. He worked as a clerk and was living with his parents at Cross Keys, Fletcher Gate, Nottingham . He was posted to the Leicestershire Regiment (8th Bn) and promoted to lance corporal on 5th November 1914. He served on the home front until 29th July 1915 when he landed in France and joined the British Expeditionary Force serving in the 2nd Bn Leicestershire Regiment. He was wounded by a gun shot to his left arm and returned to England on 23rd September 1915. After he had recovered he was again sent overseas. this time to joined the Expeditionary Force in the Persian Gulf. He embarked at Devonport on 17th February 1915 on the transport ship 'HT Persic' disembarking Basra on 21st March 1916. He was killed in action on 6th April 1916 during one of the attempts to relieve the besieged garrison at Kut. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial. Spencer qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Obituary published on 12th May 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BALDRY. – Killed in action, April 6th, Sergeant Spencer Baldry, Leicestershire Regiment, in his 20th year, beloved son of Spencer and the late Agnes Baldry, Cross Keys Hotel, Fletcher-gate. Duty nobly done. Deeply mourned.” In memoriam published 6th April 1917 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BALDRY. – In proud and loving memory of my dear friend, Sergeant Spencer Baldry, Leicestershire, killed in action April 6th, 1916. Never forgotten. – Rosie.” Above obituary and in memoriam are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 7 April 1917: ‘Baldry. In fond remembrance of Sergeant Spencer Baldry, Leciester Regiment, who was killed in action in Mesopotamia with the Kut Relief Force, April 6th, 1916’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Sole legatee Isabella Mary Baldry (step-mother). Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 16 February 1903: ‘Baldry. On the 14th inst., suddenly, at 33 (?38), Manor-street, Agnes Ellen, the beloved wife of Spencer Baldry, aged 35 years. A fond mother and faithful wife.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Baldry Spencer of 16 Devonshire-road West Bridgford Nottingham died 15 September 1936 at Ellerslie House Gregory-boulevard Nottingham Probate Nottingham 18 January to Isabella Mary Baldry widow. Effects £3704 8s. 7d. Resworn £3316 18s. 7d. Probate: 8 January 1949. Baldry Isabella Mary of Flat 38 Mansfield-court Mansfield-road Nottingham widow died 19 August 1948 Administration Nottingham 8 January to Edward William Baldry engineer. Effects £10590 18s.
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