Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Benjamin Sharman Baldwin, a bank cashier, born on the 26th January 1856 in Loughborough, Leicestershire and his wife Helen Cameron Baldwin (nee Aitken), born on the 26th July 1864 in Dunfermline, Fifeshire, the daughter of David Aitken of Dunfermline, Scotland, M.R.C.V.S. David Aitken was born in on the 9th February 1890 in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 6th April 1890 in Holy Trinity Church, Ashby de la Zouch, he had one sibling, Helen Susan, born on the 10th September 1886 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire and baptised on the 12th October 1886 in All Saint’s Church, Loughborough, in April 1891 the family home was at The Firs, Tamworth Road, Ashby de la Zouch. In March 1901 David was residing in the family home at St. Cuthberts, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, together with his father, a stockbroker, his mother and siblings, Helen and Agnes Vera Sharman, born on the 31st May 1894 in Leicester and baptised on the 24th June 1894 in St. John the Baptist Church, Leicester. In April 1911 David was an art student and was residing in the family home at St. Cuthberts, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, together with his father, a stockbroker, his mother and siblings, Helen and Agnes, a schoolgirl. David’s father became the senior partner of Messrs. Wilshere Baldwin & Co., Stockbrokers, Leicester.
David was educated at Wyggeston School, Leicester and the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, and subsequently studied Art in London under John Hassall, R.A., and in Paris with Mr E. A. Taylor.
David served with the London Scottish from 1904 until 1913, and volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant with the Leicestershire Regiment on the 22nd September 1914, and promoted Lieutenant on the 1st February 1915. He embarked for France on the 27th July and was accidentally killed at Mondicourt near Arras on the 31st August 1915 by the explosion of a bomb, while giving a demonstration in bombing. He was buried in the Civil Cemetery at Mondicourt. Major General Count Gleichen, Commanding the Division wrote, “He was a keen and excellent officer, and is sincerely mourned by all.” His Commanding Officer, Colonel Mignon wrote, “We all loved your boy, Officers, NCO’s and men and in him, everybody recognized a thoroughly sound officer, ever reliable and thoroughly conscientious.” David was unmarried. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal
The War Diary records: 31 Aug-15 - MONDICOURT. A serious accident occurred during instruction in grenade throwing this afternoon resulting in the death of the instructor Lieutenant BALDWIN and 5 other ranks also, 8 other ranks wounded, 2 of which died in hospital.
On Monday September 6th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LOCAL NEWS.” DEATHS. – BALDWIN. - In France, accidentally killed, on 31st ult., David Aitken Baldwin, Lieut., 8th Leicestershire Regt., only son of B. Sharman and Helen C. Baldwin, of St. Cuthbert’s, Clarendon Park-road, aged 25.
And in the same edition under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. - Lieut. D. A. Baldwin Killed. - Much sympathy will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. B. S. Baldwin, of St. Cuthbert’s, Clarendon Park-road, in the loss they have sustained by the death of their only son, Lieutenant DAVID AITKEN BALDWIN, of the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, who was accidentally killed in France on August 31. The deceased officer was killed instantaneously by the accidental explosion of a bomb, he being the officer in charge of a bombing party. Lieut. Baldwin was an art student. He had been a pupil of Mr. John Hassall, R.I., and had also studied in Paris. He joined Kitchener’s Army on the outbreak of war, having previously served four years in the London Scottish.
On Friday, December 3rd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. Leicestershire and the War. – THE LATE LIEUT. D. A. BALDWIN. – “A Thoroughly Sound Officer.” – Lieutenant Colonel Mignon, commanding the 8th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, has sent a letter of condolence to Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, whose son, Lieut. David Baldwin, was killed in France by the explosion of a bomb. In the course of it the gallant officer says; “We all loved your boy, officers NCOs, and men, and feel that we have sustained a terrible loss. He was always so cheery and helpful, and in him everybody recognised a thoroughly sound officer, ever reliable and thoroughly conscientious.” Count Gleichen, the Major General commanding the Brigade, replying to a letter from Mr. Baldwin thanking him for attending the young officer’s funeral wrote: - “I can assure you that it was the least I could do to testify my sympathy with the loss of your gallant son and the five men who were killed with him. He was a keen and excellent officer, and is sincerely mourned by all.”
The Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys published a Roll of Honour on the 31st January 1920 in which an entry appeared showing him to have been a pupil at the school between 1898 and 1905, it also records that he was accidentally killed.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Photograph courtesy of A.Garford 2020