World War One: John William Baron, grandfather of Councillor Billy Sheerin

John William Baron, grandfather of Councillor Billy Sheerin, and many other Castleton villagers made the ultimate sacrifice during the last century of conflicts involving our armed forces.

Councillor Sheerin said: “Just over 100 years ago a man called John William Baron, a scuture by trade in the Cotton Mill, left number 80 Hannover Street and enlisted as a soldier in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

“He left behind his wife Agnes and two young daughters Gladys and Bertha.

“He was killed in action in France on the 3 April 1918.

“He was aged 32."

 

 

Councillor Sheerin added: “Gladys was my mother and Bertha my aunty.

“The war robbed a wife of her husband, two children, of their father, and a grandfather that I was never to meet.

“This happened to many families in our village of Castleton, and across the whole of country.

“Sadly, a War Memorial was not erected in Castleton because we had no recognised village centre.

“We had to wait almost 100 years, until there was an area in the centre of Castleton to erect a memorial stone.

“I am very proud in the centenary year in which we remember the end of the Great War, World War One, we finally have a Memorial Stone in the centre of Castleton to remember my grandfather, and others who gave their lives for our country.”