Source: Elgin County in the Great War
Find-A-Grave: Cremated
Family Search: When Private Merrill Eakins Baldwin was born on 7 July 1893, in Vienna, Elgin, Ontario, Canada, his father, George Chisholm Baldwin, was 30 and his mother, Inez Merrill, was 33. He married Evelyn Glennie Fathers on 8 June 1921, in Windsor, Sandwich, Essex, Ontario, Canada. They were the parents of at least 2 sons. He lived in Windsor, Sandwich, Essex, Ontario, Canada in 1931 and New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada in 1931. He registered for military service in 1916. He died on 28 April 1977, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, at the age of 83.
Military Medal: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. During the attack on the 15th August 1917, the Company to which this Stretcher Bearer belonged suffered heavy casualties. He unceasingly rendered first aid to numerous cases and by his cheerful behaviour and untiring energy did much to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded”.
Source: Elgin County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society
Merrill Eakins Baldwin
190241
Merrill Baldwin was born on July 7, 1893 in Vienna, the son of George Chisholm Baldwin & Inez Merrill. George was born in Vienna, the son of Levi Baldwin & Susan Jane Merritt, and was farming there when he was married on October 5, 1887 in Vienna to Inez Merrill, of Vienna, the daughter of Joseph & Rosamond Merrill. They moved to St. Thomas and later Windsor, where Inez died in 1930. She is buried in Green Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Windsor.
Merrill was a salesman living at 14 Metcalfe Street, St. Thomas when he enlisted for service there on April 3, 1916 with the 91st Battalion. He names his mother of the same address as his next of kin.
Merrill sailed for England on June 29, 1916, and was transferred to the 39th Battalion on July 15, 1916 and to the 18th Battalion on August 27, 1916. He proceeded to France on August 27, 1916 and appointed Corporal on September 1, 1918. He returned from overseas and was discharged on May 24, 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal on August 15, 1917; and also the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The citation for the Military Medal reads as follows:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in action. During the attack on the 15th August 1917, the Company to which this Stretcher Bearer belonged suffered heavy casualties. He unceasingly rendered first aid to numerous cases and by his cheerful behaviour and untiring energy did much to alleviate the sufferings of the wounded”.
Following the war, Merrill moved to Windsor where he was employed as a stock room hand when he was married there on June 8, 1921 to Evelyn Glennie Fathers, a native of England living in Windsor, the daughter of Charles W. Fathers & Cora Hoggins. They were living at 621 Glengarry Ave., Windsor when Merrill’s mother died at their home in 1930.
He later moved to Vancouver where he died on April 28, 1977 at the age of 83. His obituary, from an undated clipping, follows:
BALDWIN – On April 28, 1977, Merrill Eakins Baldwin, 83 years, of 5287 Carleton Court, Burnaby, B.C. Born in St. Thomas, veteran of World War I; served with 18th Battalion; member Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 83, Burnaby. Survived by loving wife Evelyn; two sons, Cliff of Burnaby and Clare of Abbotsford; two grandchildren Mitchell and Janet. Funeral service on Monday, May 2 at 1 p.m. in the Royal Oak Funeral Chapel, 5100 Kingsway, South Burnaby. Rev. G. Fee officiating. Cremation.
30 Apr 1977, Sat ·Page 30.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 