Sgt 300522 James Gerald Baron

• Age: 29
• From: Rainford Lancs
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 4th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Hooge Crater Cem, Zillebeke
  Panel Ref: X.D.1

James Gerald Baron was born 1888 at Rainhill and resided in St Helens. He was the son of James Aloysius Baron and his wife Elizabeth  (nee McLachan) of Royal Raven Hotel, St. Helens. They married in 1883 at Prescot Register Office.

The 1891 Census finds the family living at Rainford Villa, Rainford, St Helens. Both parents are declared in the household, James is 33 and Elizabeth 30. James is 2 years of age and has two siblings: Mary Muriel aged 6 and Marie Marguerite aged 1.

By 1901 the family have moved to St Anees Road, St Helens. James is now aged 12 and is living with his parents and 6 siblings: Mary Muriel, Dorothy 9, Winifred M. 7, Teresa F. 5, John W. 1 and Mary B. under 3 months.    

The 1911 Census shows the family living at Haresfinch Hall Windle, St Helens. His father, James Aloysius, is now aged 53, born at Lytham in 1858 occupation architect/surveyor whilst his mother Elizabeth is aged 50, born 1861 in St Helens. They have been married for twenty seven years and have had twelve children of which three had died. Those children listed in the household are; Dorothea aged 19, born 1892, Winifred aged 17, born 1894 have no occupation listed, James Gerald aged 22, born 1889 is an architect/surveyor these three children were born in Rainford. Teresa Frances aged 15, born 1896, Mary aged 10, born 1901 are both at school, John Wilfred aged 11, born 1900 is a student and Duncan McLachlan aged 6, born 1905 is at school part time were all born in St Helens. They also have a boarder Irene Cosgrove aged 23, born 1888 a school mistress and a resident of Chile but a British subject by parentage.

James Gerald enlisted in Rainhill and originally served as 250032, Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry and following a transfer was serving in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Sergeant 300522 when he was killed in action on the 04^th December 1917, aged 29. 

The 18th Battalion War Diary records -

On 4th December the battalion moved up to front line trenches at Gheluvelt, No.3 Coy on right, No.4 Coy in centre, and No.2 Coy on left.  Heavy enemy shelling, all calibres and Minenwerfers. Several direct hits on R. Coy posts. Retaliation asked for but little response from our guns.  Casualties 6 killed, 6 wounded. 

James was one of those casualties referred to in the diary as killed. The other men killed on the same day were;  John George Haywood, Thomas James Hennessy, Cornelius Palfrey, Edward Ernest Roberts, and Peter Walsh.

He was buried close to where he fell but after the war when graves were concentrated he was reburied and now rests at Hooge Crater Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“OF YOUR CHARITY PRAY FOR HIS SOUL”

Hooge Chateau and its stables were the scene of very fierce fighting throughout the First World War. On 31 October 1914, the staff of the 1st and 2nd Divisions were wiped out when the chateau was shelled; from 24 May to 3 June 1915, the chateau was defended against German attacks and in July 1915, the crater was made by a mine sprung by the 3rd Division. On 30 July, the Germans took the chateau, and on 9 August, it and the crater were regained by the 6th Division. The Germans retook Hooge on 6 June 1916 and on 31 July 1917, the 8th Division advanced 1.6 Kms beyond it. It was lost for the last time in April 1918, but regained by the 9th (Scottish) and 29th Divisions on 28 September.

Hooge Crater Cemetery was begun by the 7th Division Burial Officer early in October 1917. It contained originally 76 graves, in Rows A to D of Plot I, but was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of Zillebeke, Zantvoorde and Gheluvelt and other smaller cemeteries.

There are now 5,916 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in this cemetery. 3,570 of the burials are unidentified, but special memorials record the names of a number of casualties either known or believed to be buried among them, or whose graves in other cemeteries were destroyed by shell fire.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo 13th December 1917

DEATHS

Killed In Action

BARON - December 4, killed in action, aged 29 years, Sergt. Jones(sic) Gerald Baron, Lancashire Hussars, eldest son of Councillor Baron, St Helens. R.I.P.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his father James Aloysius. 

His father died 10th December 1926, aged 69, Alder Farm, Crank and probate was awarded to his widow Elizabeth in 1927.     

James earned his three medals and is commemorated on the following memorials:

St Helens Civic Memorial

St Mary’s R.C. Church, St Helens

St John the Evangelist’s C. of E. Church, Ravenhead, St Helens.

We currently have no further information on James Gerald Baron, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Grateful thanks are extended to St Helens Roll of Honour for permission to use the photograph of James Gerald.