Arthur George Baxter

Arthur was born in 1872 (J/A/S Nottingham) the son of George J. and Elizabeth H. Baxter. In 1881, George J Baxter (30), a chimney sweep, and his wife Elizabeth (29) were living at 9 Walker Street, Sneinton, with their three children Arthur (8), John S. (6) and Florence (3). Arthur joined the Somerset Light Infantry on 23 June 1890 at the age of 19 and served for twenty years before being discharged with a pension. He returned to Nottingham on leaving the army and on 3 April 1911 married the widowed Susannah Cox (nee Blockley) at St Mary's church, Nottingham. Susannah Blockley was born in 1879 (J/A/S Nottingham) and married John Henry Cox b. 1876 (A/M/J Nottingham) in 1896 (O/N/D Nottingham). They had three children: Edith Annie born 2nd August 1899, John William born 7th July 1901 and Lillian Winifred born 3rd March 1904. In 1901 John (25) a saddler, and Susannah (21) were living at 28 St Alban's Street, Sneinton, with their first child, Edith (1). John died at the age of 31 in April 1907 (A/M/J Nottingham), buried on 22 April. At the time of the 1911 Census Arthur (38), a chimney sweep on his own account, and Susannah (31) a lace worker working from home, were living at 20 Woolpack Lane, Nottingham, with Susannah's children from her first marriage; Edith Ann Cox (12), John William Cox (10) and Lilian Cox (7). Their only child, George William, was born three years later on 23 June 1914. The family was living at 43 Bluebell Hill Road when Arthur enlisted in 1915. His widow Susannah married William McNichol in 1922 (A/M/J Nottingham). She died in 1938 (Dec Nottingham).