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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Antrim => Topic started by: GWBP on Wednesday 12 March 14 16:30 GMT (UK)
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Sapper Albert Edward Baxter (57649, 121st Field Company, Royal Engineers)
A member of the Limerick Branch of the Royal British Legion recently purchased a Silver War Badge that had been issued to a Belfast man when he was discharged from the Army in 1917 due to illness - the Silver War Badge was issued to prevent men who had "done their bit" being treated as "shirkers".
Whilst this is principally an appeal for relatives of Albert Edward Baxter, any additional information would be welcome :)
Born: 1884/1885 (based on age in 1901 and 1911 censi (16 and 26 respectively)
Parents: James (51 in 1901, Stonemason) and Agnes (52 in 1901, Housekeeper)
Siblings: Minnie M (b1877/1878, Linen Weaver), Frederick (1888/1881, Bricklayer), Sarah (b 1886/1887), George (b 1893/1894)
Occupation: Tailor
Spouse: Margaret McFarlane (b 1886/1887, Linen Yarn Spinner)
Married on 08/07/1907 in St Anne’s Church, Belfast
Children:
Annie (b 18/03/1910),
Agnes (b 15/02/1912) and
Jane (b 31/12/1913)
Addresses:
1901 Census (Parental) - 26 in Midland Street (Woodvale)
1911 Census (Marital) - 56 in Argyle Street (Woodvale)
1918 Belfast Street Directory – 51 Byron Street (Oldpark)
1960 BCC Burial Records – 7 Harkness Parade (Sydenham)
Albert Edward Baxter died on 16/02/1960, aged 75, and Margaret Baxter died on 05/04/1960, aged 74 (both are buried in Plot D.976, Roselawn Cemetery)
War Service:
Enlisted on 28/11/1914
BEF France from 04/10/1915 to 20/10/1916
Home Service from 21/10/1916 to 24/12/1917
Discharged on 24/12/1917 due to (unspecified) Sickness (Silver War Badge No 295512)
Death Notices:
Margaret (Wife), Albert (Son) and grandsons Albert and Bobbie
Agnes (Daughter) and James McDowell and grandson Bill (43 Alliance Parade)
Sally (Daughter) and Charles McClurg and un-named grandchildren (26 Upper Charleville Street)
Margaret (Daughter) and Alfred Kelly and un-named grandchildren (26 Kilbroney Bend)
Annie (Daughter) and Sandy McCullough and un-named grandchildren (137 Mount Merrion Avenue)
Jean (Daughter) and Dennis Regan and un-named grandchildren (57 Charles Street South)
Bobbie Young Baxter (Grandson) and Madelaine and great-grandson Bobbie (19 Emerald Street)
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Nothing obvious turning up at moment. Meantime, given the current press focus on WW1 with it being Centenary year, have you considered asking Belfast Telegraph if they would run with a small item re the medal and your quest? You could also add the details to Belfast Forum. Certainly, you have a good number of descendants listed at end of your post who could have gone on to have families in those areas, so hopefully someone will eventually be reunited with the medal.
Anyone who may be able to help via rootschat will need to contact you by PM if they want to discuss living persons.
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Scotmum
Already have topic on Belfast Forum and a friend is going to distribute an article to her newspaper contacts, so hopefully something in the press over the next few weeks.
I visited the Baxter grave to take photograph and noticed that it is well tended - I intend to return with a laminated sheet with pictures of the badge, his MIC and SWB Register entry and contact details. His widow died early in April 1960, so relatives may be visiting the grave this April.
Nigel
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Sounds like a good idea, GWBP. If any groundsmen around when you next visit, perhaps worth having a chat with them too.
This chap, going by Electoral Rolls, was over 65 when he died last year......longshot, but age could possibly fit for the grandson, Albert, mentioned in 1960 (albeit realise the surname could be fairly common in areas surrounding the cemetery):
http://www.obituaries-ni.co.uk/view_obituary.php?oid=11837
http://classifieds.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/advert/northern-ireland/family-notices/death-notices/261776/Baxter-Albert-Hamilton-Death
Certainly, this late chap's Tennent Street address fits with area of some of the addresses in your first post.
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Scotmum
Am tempted to call at the Carnan Street adddress on the off-chance but maybe posting the details above would be better.
Strangely, although the links that you provided point to Roselawn, I cannot find entry for Albert Hamilton Baxter on the online BCC Burial Records.
Thanks for the line of enquiry.
Nigel
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Red Herring, probably.
Just found an Andrew Hamilton Baxter died 1975, aged 67, and a Florence Baxter died 2005, aged 95, her address at death was Tennent Street, so more likely they were the parents of the Albert Hamilton Baxter.
Mind you, still a good chance that with the surname being in the same area, the families may have been familiar with each other and/or have had some connection further back.
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Annie (Daughter) and Sandy McCullough and un-named grandchildren (137 Mount Merrion Avenue)
It seems Alexander d 1973, Annie d 1972 and, possibly their daughters, a Mary Ann d1979 aged 49 and Irene Mgt d 1989 aged 55.