Born: 1895, Bingley
Died: 17 July 1918
Buried: SW part of graveyard, St John’s Church, Baildon
Address: 1 West Grove, Westgate, Baildon
Parents: Clara Watson and step father, Ben Watson
Spouse:
Siblings: Harry; step-sisters Dorothy and Annie
Occupation: Doffer
Organisations/clubs: Member of Baildon brass band
Military
Rank: Gunner
Medals/awards: D.C.M.
Rolls of Honour: Baildon Methodist Church; Baildon
Children:
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Sam Moxon Gelder D.C.M.
We are fortunate to have
many articles about Sam
Gelder from the pages of
the Shipley Times &
Express.
At the time of the 1911
census, Sam was living at
1 West Grove, Baildon,
with his mother and step
father, Clara and Ben
Watson, together with his
brother Harry and step-
sisters Dorothy and Annie (pictured right with
Sam). 15 year old Sam was working as a
doffer.
The first article we find is a thank you letter
from September 1915 for a parcel from the
people of Baildon: ‘It’s a treat to smoke an
English cigarette,’ he wrote, adding that he and
Fred Light had seen a number of Baildon boys
and ‘had a happy party.’
But two weeks later, on 10 October, 1915, he
painted a much tougher picture of life at the
Front: ‘I am afraid we find the life rather on the
rough side. Our sleeping apartments are very
primitive, the walls being composed of sand
bags, while the roof is made up of a waterproof
sheet and odd bits we have picked up in the
ruined villages round about.
‘The most striking thing I have
met with out here - and I have
travelled a good number of
miles – is the fact that the
churches appear to have been
singled out for the most wanton
damage. In one town, whilst
the church was in absolute
ruin, houses in the
neighbourhood were scarcely
damaged.
‘Another peculiar thing is that
whilst churches are
everywhere in ruins, the
crucifixes are in the majority of
instances intact. I can only remember one case
where the crucifix was damaged and even then
it was the thief on the left side of the Lord who
had had his head blown off. There they stand
as if God defies the Germans to destroy them.
‘The poverty of the people out here would
easily shame the slums of some of our large
cities. It is a common thing to find four or five
families living in a little house that has, by
some chance, escaped the German shells. The
children, too, seem to be very
delicate and half starved to
death. These people are
suffering from the results of the
war and you in England ought to
be thankful that the war is out
here.
‘It is not pleasant thing to be a
witness of all the ruin and
poverty but we are hoping for
the time when we can pay the
enemy back in his own coin.
Day and night we can hear the
guns roaring and after dark the
sky is lit up with flashes from the
guns. Whilst I am writing this letter, the
Germans are bombarding a town just in our
rear and we can hear the shells quite plainly as
they fly over our heads; somehow, we never
trouble about them.’
Thanks to Tish and Michael Lawson
for their help in this research
In September of 1917 there was
mixed news – Sam had been
awarded a medal for heroism but
he had paid a severe price.
‘Pte Samuel Gelder, son of Mrs
Watson, Browgate, Baildon, has
been awarded the D.C.M. which
was presented to him on
Wednesday at Ripon.
‘Pte Gelder is only 21 years of age
and has been invalided home with
his health shattered.
‘He enlisted at the beginning of the
war, being then employed by Mr
John Riddihough, wool merchant,
Horton Lane, Bradford. He was
connected with the Wesleyan
Church at Baildon and a member
of the Baildon Brass Band.’
The following week, we learn that
even Sam’s homecoming hadn’t
gone smoothly:
‘Gunner Sam Gelder, Royal Field
Artillery, a winner of the
Distinguished Conduct Medal, who
has been discharged from the
service owing to wounds, has
returned home after having taken
part in an interesting gathering.
‘Along with a number of other
soldiers who have covered
themselves with glory on the
battlefield, Gunner Gelder received
his decoration at the hands of Lieut
General Sir John G Maxwell, who
paid a visit last week to a Yorkshire
training centre.
‘The inhabitants of Baildon had
made full preparation to give him a
real hearty welcome on his arrival
home.
‘A vehicle was sent to Shipley
Station to meet him and the
Baildon Band had arranged to
‘play him home’ but unfortunately
owing to some delay in the train
service his arrival was late and
meantime the crowd gathered to
welcome him dispersed.’
But the villagers quickly made
suitable arrangements to welcome
their hero home:
‘The Baildon Brass Band gave a
choice selection of music in the
Market Square on Saturday
evening and at the conclusion a
collection was made in aid of a
public testimonial for Gunner
Samuel Gelder who was recently
presented at Ripon Camp by
General Maxwell with the D.C.M.
‘On Sunday evening an excellent
concert was given in the Picture
House by Miss Irene Hamilton
(soprano), Miss Ciara Baxendall
(contralto), Mr Douglas Hamilton
(tenor) and Mr Alfred Morrell
(accompanist).
‘Mr H Metice was the elocutionist
in the unavoidable absence through
indisposition of Mr Cannon Dalby,
whilst the Baildon Orchestral
Society, consisting of 28
performers under the
conductorship of Mr A Carpenter
gave a number of capital
selections.
‘Each of the artistes received were
encored by a large and appreciative
audience.
‘During an interval Gunner Gelder
was presented with a purse
containing £7 2s 6d – the proceeds
of the Brass Band’s meeting on
Saturday evening – and also a
silver cigarette case subscribed for
by the committee and promoters of
Sunday evening’s concert, Messrs
H Robinson, J Dyson and W
Halliday.
‘The gallant soldier in a neat little
speech thanked those who had
contributed to his handsome
present and told of the pleasure
experienced by our gallant lads at
the front upon the receipt of a
parcel of comforts from home.
‘The proceeds of Sunday evening’s
concert are to be devoted to
augmenting the Baildon Soldier’s
and Sailors’ Comforts Fund. The
event was well patronised.’
In November of 1917, the
newspaper reported:
‘Gunner Sam Gelder, D.C.M. had a
rousing reception from the scholars
when he visited his old school on
Tuesday afternoon.
After a few words of welcome and
congratulations from the head
master, Mr T Morgan Jones, Miss
Butland, the senior assistant,
presented him with a wallet and
silver matchbox on behalf of the
teachers and scholars.
In returning thanks, the brave
gunner related a few of his
experiences at the front and
exhibited souvenirs which he had
brought back with him.’
Sam died as a result of his wounds
in July 1918 and is buried in St
John’s Church graveyard.
