Hull Pals Memorial Post. SERGEANT HENRY BAXTER 11/14. Born in 1889, Henry was the fourth of six sons to Francis and Eliza Baxter, of 84, Courtney Street, Holderness Road, Hull. An Iron Moulder before the war, he queued outside Hull City Hall on Monday 7th September 1914 to join the new Pals Battalion, the 11th East Yorkshire’s, 2nd Hull Pals, ‘The Tradesmen’. Originally joining as a Private, he was promoted during 1916. A veteran of Egypt, the Somme and Oppy Wood, Henry was killed in action on 26th June 1917 and buried at Albuera Military Cemetery. The battalion was still in the same trenches in front of Oppy Wood that they had occupied before the fateful attack on 3rd May. They had been out of the line for a spell of rest and training, but had returned to what must have been a harrowing place for them. There were several small-scale attacks as they tried again to drive the Germans from the wood. On the night of the 26th they were shelled, but suffered no casualties. However, the battalion history shows they were relieved by the 12th Yorks and Lancs Regiment, so perhaps Henry was killed during the changeover. Henry Baxter was 28 years old, stood 5ft 7″ high and had blue eyes and dark brown hair and someone’s son and brother.
His brother Private, Albert Baxter, 1/4th EYR, was killed in 09/07/1915, one of four sons serving. Their photos were featured in the local newspaper as a “Patriotic family”
Albert and Henry Baxter are both listed on the Roll of Honour at St Mary’s Church, Lowgate, Hull.
