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5223 52nd Battalion, Australian Infantry, Australian Imperial Force
Charles Baring was born in 1893, one of seven children of Rev. Francis Henry and Amy Baring. He was born in King’s Worthy, Hampshire and baptised on 5 March 1893. Prior to his parents moving to India around 1897 his father was recorded in 1896 as ‘a Rector in Suffolk’, but by 1901 his widowed Mother was back in England living at Verne House Newton Road, Sudbury.
Three of his four brothers; Cecil Christopher, Reginald Arthur and Ernest also lost their lives serving their country and are remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial. It is not known when Charles left for Australia but when he enlisted on 23 October 1915 he declared that he had spent three years as an apprentice at an agricultural college in New South Wales. He was described as 5ft 8¾ ins in height, with a 35 inch chest, 160 pounds in weight, dark brown hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion.
Charles embarked for France onboard RMS Orontes on 29 March 1916 in Melbourne, by the time he disembarked at Marseilles in June he had been promoted to Acting Corporal and a short while later to Acting Sergeant whilst training at the base depot at Etaples. He reverted back to private when he rejoined his battalion at the end of July.
In mid August the battalion saw action as a supporting role at the Battle of Mouquet Farm (known as Mucky Farm by the troops). It went on to be part of the final Australian attack on Pozieres on 3 September 1916. There were heavy casualties and the battalion lost 9 officers and 170 other ranks.
Charles was killed in action on 4 September 1916 aged 23. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, Somme, France. A Cross of Remembrance was laid close to his name on the memorial at
Villers-Bretonneux in April 2009.
Charles is also remembered on the Australian National War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
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