A First War Group To Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Baldwin

Canada; British War Medal (871626 C.Q.M. SJT. T. BALDWIN. C.R.T.); and Victory Medal (871626 C.Q.M. SJT. T. BALDWIN. C.R.T.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, replacement ribbons, very dark patina on the BWM, gilt wear on the VM, light contact, better than very fine. Accompanied by a Municipality of Rockwood, Manitoba Welcome Home Medal (silver, engraved "Q.M.S. THOMAS BALDWIN #871626" on the edge, obverse illustrating a beaver in the centre, inscribed "INCORPORATED" above and "1889" below within an open-ended wreath of laurel leaves, surrounded by the inscription "MUNICIPALITY OF ROCKWOOD MANITOBA", reverse inscribed "FOR SERVICE 1914 / TO KING AND COUNTRY" in the centre (with a space in between intended for the naming), surrounded by the inscription "MUNICIPALITY OF ROCKWOOD MANITOBA / GREAT EUROPEAN WAR MEDAL", 38.2 mm, original ribbon with pinback hanger.

Footnote: Thomas Baldwin was born on February 16, 1897 in Blackburn, Scotland, the son of Robert Baldwin and Betty Baldwin, the family later immigrating to Canada. He was a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (871626) with the 183rd Infantry Battalion "Manitoba Beavers", on March 29, 1916 in Winnipeg, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Robert Baldwin of Woodroyd, Manitoba (north of Winnipeg between Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg), stating that he had nine months' previous service with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers, that he was Single and that his trade was that of Clerk. His religion was Church of England. The Battalion was raised in Manitoba with mobilization headquarters at Winnipeg under the authority of G.O. 69, July 15, 1916. The Battalion sailed October 4, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first part aboard the S.S. Saxonia, the second part aboard the S.S. Missanabie, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel W.T. Edgecombe with a strength of 13 officers and 431 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 13th. In England, the Battalion was broken up to supply reinforcements for the 100th, 107th, 108th and 144th Infantry Battalions, with Private Baldwin being transferred to the 144th Infantry Battalion on October 26, 1916. The following month, a medical examination was performed on Baldwin. In his Proceedings of a Medical Board Report, dated November 14, 1916 at Seaford, the doctor noted that Baldwin had a left Inguinal Hernia in the groin, along with Amblyopia (lazy eye) in the right eye. He was subsequently posted to Garrison Duty. Three months after arriving in England, Baldwin was transferred to the 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion, on January 4, 1917. The 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion received their orders for overseas service in the French theatre on February 8, 1917, arriving at the Base Depot in France on February 10th. He was appointed Acting Sergeant on November 21, 1917. The 2nd Canadian Labour Battalion was re-named the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, effective November 25, 1917, with Baldwin being confirmed in the rank of Sergeant on February 1, 1918. He was to be Acting Company Quartermaster Sergeant on May 9, 1918 and was confirmed in the rank of Company Quartermaster Sergeant on September 23, 1918. Baldwin was admitted to No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station with a bout of Influenza, on October 31, 1918. After eleven days, he was transferred to No. 72 General Hospital at Trouville on November 11th, where his stay would entail one week, before being transferred to No. 15 Convalescent Depot at Trouville on November 18th for another stay, this time for ten days. After four weeks' hospitalization, he was discharged to the Base Depot on November 28th. Since hostilities had ceased while he was hospitalized,

Baldwin was posted to the Labour Pool at the Canadian General Base Depot on December 16, 1918, then transferred to England and posted to the Canadian Railway Troops Depot on December 17th, followed by a posting to the 4th Reserve Battalion at Witley on December 20th. In his Medical History of an Invalid Report, it was noted that a medical examination was conducted upon him at Knotty Ash Camp at Liverpool on February 13, 1919. The congenital Amblyopia in the right eye was re-visited, the doctor noting that it came with convergent stabismus (where the eyes do not properly align, sometimes defined as "crossed eyes"), but made it clear that this condition was not aggravated by Baldwin's military service. The doctor declared it to be a "permanent disability" and recommended that he be placed in Category B (service aboard, not general service). Also, the army approved his "past marriage" on February 22, 1919. He was placed on command at the 1st Canadian Discharge Depot at Buxton for return to Canada, on May 6, 1919, struck off strength of the Overseas Military Forces of Canada on June 24, 1919, sailing from Liverpool aboard R.M.S. Minnedosa and arriving in Quebec City on July 2nd. Company Quartermaster Sergeant Thomas Baldwin was discharged upon demobilization, on July 5, 1919, at Clearing Station Command at the Quebec Depot, in Quebec City, Quebec, credited with having served in France with the 12th Battalion, Canadian Railway Troops, entitled to wear the War Service Badge, Class "A", number 132549. He stated his proposed residence as Winnipeg. He had two Wills, one dated September 23, 1916 while with the 183rd Infantry Battalion, the other dated December 13, 1916 while with the 144th Infantry Battalion, each bequeathing all his real estate and personal estate to his mother, Betty Baldwin of Argyle Station, Manitoba, but of course neither were executed.