Joseph James Baldry

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Gravestone source: Middlesex Yeomanry Association, FindaGrave.com

Joseph James Baldry was born on the 9th of February 1922, and baptised on the 19th of March 1922, the son of James & May Charlotte Baldry (née Branton), of 4, St. Peter’s Road, Stepney. James Baldry was a Metal Sorter. This is according to the Parish registers of St. Anthony’s, Stepney, London.

Joseph’s mother had already lost a brother, Joseph Branton in WW1. He was in the London Regiment and was killed in action on the 15th of September 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

We see May Charlotte on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, living at 1, Edgar Place, London E.2. with her parents. She was working as a typist in the Central Office of the Employment Department in the Ministry of Labour, Boadway, London S.W.1. James Baldry on the 1921 census is seen living at 4, St. Peter’s Road, Mile End, London E.1. He is living with his widowed mother Hannah Baldry and had been working as a ‘Metal Sorter’ for W. Baldry, 14, James Street, Bethnal Green but was out of work at the time of the census. May and James got married after the 19th of June 1921 as they are seen on the Birth Marriages and Deaths as being married in the June quarter of 1921 at Mile End.

James Joseph Baldry is seen on the 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 29th of September 1939, living at 82 Chandos, Stratford, West Ham C.B., Essex, England with his father. James was working as a ‘Youth in Training, Port Office Engineering Department, Cable Jointer Electrical’. His mother, May, is missing from the household but I found her living at 1 Grassmere Villas, London Road, Colchester, Essex, on the night of the taking of the same National Register. She was recorded as doing unpaid domestic duties so I wonder if James' parents had separated.

Sadly, I have no information on Joseph James Baldry, neither his early or teen years, but we do know that he got married to Joyce Alice Brazier who lived in Walthamstow and was working as an Adressograph Operator. They were married in the June quarter of 1943 in the Registration District of Essex S.W., I am presuming while he was on leave. The following June, he was to lose his life.

I do not know when Joseph enlisted or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. He was serving with 16 Air Formation Signals who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. The unit was attached to 15082 GCI, Royal Air Force, a Ground Control Intercept Unit which was attached to US forces as the Americans did not have available the technical equipment or the trained personnel to maintain and operate the required equipment.

The unit landed later in the day as they had to stand off due to the strength of German oppostion. They lost much of their equipment  and sustained a number of casualties to personnel as they landed, one of whom was James Baldry. He was recorded as being killed in action and was buried in the USA Cemetery, St. Laurent and then reburied on the 6th of November 1944 in the Bayeux British Cemetery where he now lies.

Both families would have been shocked and grieved by Joseph being killed, but there was more sadness to follow. Joyce Baldry was to die in Whipps Cross Hospital, aged 21 years, and was buried in Chingford Mount Cemetery on Thursday the 6th of June 1946.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Joseph Baldry. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Joseph, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.