Former Winchester MP, Lieut.-Col Guy Baring, was one of twenty two Members of Parliament killed during the First World War remembered at a special service of commemoration held on Wednesday 5th November in Westminster.
He died during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, aged just 43, having been elected to the House of Commons ten years earlier at the General Election of 1906.
Speaker John Bercow and The Speaker's Chaplain, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, led a service in the ancient Chapel of St Mary Undercoft in the Palace of Westminster attended by current MPs, Peers and members representing all three armed services. Current Winchester MP Steve Brine attended the service, which was followed by a wreath being laid at Parliament's permanent war memorial, with his predecessor's great-great nephew, Mark Baring.
Steve said: "Winchester is one of the oldest constituencies in the land and because of that I have a great many predecessors with many stories to tell, but it's been especially moving to find out a little bit about Guy Baring in recent weeks. He died serving his country just a few years older than I am now and I think it's tremendously important we remember him in this centenary year of the Great War. It was a conflict which cut millions of lives short and it's sobering to reflect how that was true of many Members of Parliament in the prime of their careers as well."
Mark Baring added: "I am delighted to have been invited to attend this remembrance service for the fallen MPs of the First World War, including my great-great uncle Guy Baring. He volunteered despite being over 40 and having six children at home. I think it is very important we acknowledge his service".
Liet.-Col Baring had formally left the Coldstream Guards in 1913 but rejoined immediately on the outbreak of war in 1914. He was posted to Windsor where he commanded a training company, until July 1915 when he was posted to France. He was second-in- command of the 4th (Pioneer) Battalion; after the Battle of Loos he commanded the first Battalion of the Coldstream Guards.
He is buried in The Citadel New Military Cemetery near Fricourt and commemorated inside Winchester Cathedral.
Pictured; a recent image taken of Guy Baring's headstone, and Steve Brine MP and Mark Baring at the war memorial in Westminster Hall
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You can watch a short-film from Westminster via the You Tube portal above or here.