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73rd Squadron, Royal Air Force
Reginald Baring, one of seven children of Rev. Francis Henry and Amy Baring was born on 23 April 1899 in Northam, Devon where his father was Rector. 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.
In 1911 Reginald was a boarder at Claremont House School in Lowestoft. He then followed his brothers Ernest and Cecil and attended Haileybury College in Hertfordshire. Three of his four brothers; Cecil Christopher, Charles Alexander and Ernest also lost their lives serving their country and are remembered on the Sudbury War Memorial.
Reginald was living with his mother in Newton Road when he joined the Royal Flying Corps in June 1917 as a 3rd Class Air Mechanic before being obtaining a temporary commission with the rank of Second Lieutenant in December. He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant in April 1918 and his service record describes him as 5ft 8 ins in height with a good character. Reginald joined No. 73 Squadron in France flying Sopwith Camels. Their task was to fly fighter patrols and act as escorts for bombing missions over the Western Front.
Reginald was killed in action aged 19 on 9 June 1918. There is no known grave and he is remembered on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
A Cross of Remembrance was laid at the Arras Flying Services Memorial in March 2007 and October 2011.
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