George Albert Haines, Private, 11th Battalion Border Regiment
Above photo: George Haines (1)
George Haines was born in Middleton On The Hill, Herefordshire in 1887.
After the 1st World War, this village would come to be known as one of the 53 “Thankful Villages” in England and Wales. They were called that because these villages suffered no fatalities during the Great War of 1914 to 1918. Further, Middleton-On-The Hill did not suffer any losses in World War II, so it is one of only 13 villages in England and Wales which are also known as "Doubly Thankful” villages.
The 1901 census records that George Haines was living in a four room house (including kitchen) at Marston. He lived there with his father, George aged 53, who was a “farmer own account”, his mother Elizabeth (37) and his brother, William. He would have been 13 years old at the time.
George Haines was residing at the same residence ten years later with an addition to the family of a daughter, Sara, who was 8 in the 1911 census.
George Haines enlisted at Leominster in the Herefordshire Regiment, probably in late 1915 to early 1916 under the Derby scheme.
“The Derby Scheme was launched in Autumn 1915 by the Earl of Derby, Kitchener's new Director General of Recruiting, to determine how many new recruits could be signed up, using appointed canvassers visiting eligible men at home to persuade them to 'volunteer' for war service.
Above photo: World War I recruitment poster (Wikipedia)
The scheme announcement caused an initial rise in recruitment, as some preferred to go to the recruiting office rather than wait for the inevitable. Many canvassers were experienced in politics, though discharged veterans and the fathers of serving soldiers proved the most effective, while some just used threats to persuade. Although women were not allowed to canvas, they did contribute by tracking men who had moved address.
Every man would be given a copy of a letter from the Earl of Derby, explaining the programme and stating that they were in "a country fighting, as ours is, for its very existence"and had to state whether or not he was willing to attest to enlist. Those who did agree to attest had to promise to present themselves at their recruiting office within 48 hours, while some were accompanied there immediately. The scheme was undertaken during November–December 1915 and obtained 318,553 medically fit single men.” (Wikipedia)
It’s most likely that George Haines found himself in either the 2nd or 3rd Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment.
“The 2nd Battalion was formed on 22nd August 1914, and at that time comprised the small Hereford Depot staff and the hundreds of volunteers that enlisted. The battalion became an operational Battalion allocated to UK Home Defence. It never served overseas.
The 3rd/1st Battalion was formed in Autumn 1914 - again to handle the large number of volunteers. It became the Depot & Training Battalion for the Regiment, training new recruits and receiving soldiers returning to fitness after wounds and sickness before posting them to an operational unit.” (2)
“At this period soldiers who had enlisted under the Derby Scheme went to formation recruit training centres.
Above photo: Troops of the Herefordshire Regiment on a training ‘route march’ (3)
“As things settled down many of these men from 2nd and 3rd Battalion were transferred as reinforcements to the 1st Battalion and other operational units.” (4)
The operational unit that George Haines was transferred to was the 11th Border Regiment.
“The Somme Battle had been launched on 1 July 1916, and the slog through the mud of the Somme Valley against a determined enemy had taken its toll; casualties were high and many units were no longer ‘battle worthy’. Immediate reserves had been used up yet there was still a requirement for more manpower.” (5)
This was especially the case with the 11th Border Regiment.
On July 1st, 1916, the first day of the Battle of The Somme, the 11th Border Regiment, formed in 1914 by The Earl of Lonsdale (of Lonsdale Belt fame) and made up of volunteers from Cumberland and Westmoreland, had to advance from Autruille Wood up a slope towards the entrenched Germans. It was a suicidal mission and Higher Command had been informed by the CO of the battalion, Lt.Col Matchell, that this would be the case. However, Lt.Col Matchell’s advice was ignored. Of the 28 officers and 800 men that took part, 25 officers (including Lt. Col. Matchell) and 490 men were killed, wounded or dying of wounds throughout the course of the day.
“It was in this scenario that men of The Herefordshire Regiment were transferred to the 11th Battalion of The Border Regiment and fought on the Somme.
In September 1916 some 250 men (Herefordshire Regiment) were identified to reinforce units in France. The men formed a greater contingent with soldiers of The Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) and set out for France. They sailed from Southampton to Rouen and probably spent several days at the infamous ‘Bull Ring’ training camp at Etaples before being ‘sent up the line’ to join the 11th Battalion the Border Regiment.
Above photo: Soldiers practise bayonet charges in the "Bull Ring" on the dunes near Etaples (Wikipedia)
They would have probably travelled by train, in the wagons known well to the First World War soldiers by the legend stencilled on them ’40 hommes/8 cheveaux’. The reinforcements moved forwards probably via Amiens to join the 11th Border Regiment who were out of the line. Here they would have been allocated to companies and platoons as required, and undertaken unit training.” (6)
The following describes the days leading up to when George Haines was most likely wounded.
“In November, the Battalion moved back to the Somme; at 06.10hrs on 18th they were engaged in action in the Beaumont Hamel area...
Above photo: Lancashire Fusiliers trench Beaumont-Hamel 1916 (Wikimedia)
... and took part in an attack to capture the high ground of the Redan Ridge; the ridge dominated the lower ground, by capturing it a breakthrough was hoped for.
Above photo: Redan Ridge – today a cemetery (7)
“The assault crossed the mud of no-man’s land and passed through the German Front Line (Munich Trench) and occupied the German reserve trench (Frankfort Trench), only to find that their flanks were ‘open’ and the Germans had closed the gap behind them and reoccupied the Munich trench and had encircled them and they were cut off.” (8)
“It is thought that 7 officers and about 120 soldiers had become isolated, about half of these were from the 11th Border Regiment and almost certainly included some of those transferred from the Herefords. The group sent messengers back to the British lines, but could not evacuate en masse due to the high number of casualties. They were running short of water, food and ammunition and parties went out to recover these items from bodies lying in no-mans’ land. On one occasion a patrol brought in 8 German prisoners. On 2 occasions fighting patrols were sent out from the British lines in an attempt to relieve the isolated force; on both occasions the operation failed. The Germans were becoming increasingly agitated by this pocket of British troops holding out against them and launched several attacks, eventually a 2 battalion assault (1500 men) was launched.
18th November is the official last day of the Battle of The Somme. The troops had held out for 8 days with no resupply and enduring increasing hardship and casualties. Eventually on the 25th November, after a vicious assault involving hand to hand fighting with clubs and bayonets, all ammunition having been expended, the troops had no option but to surrender. Only 15 unwounded men emerged from Frankfort Trench to be taken Prisoner of War by the Germans; many wounded also were taken into captivity.” (9)
The following is an account from a war diary written by an officer in the 11th Border Regiment shortly after the events that took place in which George Haines had been wounded.
“17/11/16, 10pm, Battalion left ENGLEBELMER at 11pm full fighting order for trenches. Marched through MAILLY MAILLET and passed through “White City” having formed into single file sometime before. From this point the Battalion went across the open headed by the C.O. towards trenches opposite Wagon Road occupying any trench back & front where we relieved the East Lancs & the North Lancs. The Battalion on the way to these trenches passed under shell fire & casualties were caused. The behaviour of the men was good & after some difficulty the relief which was commenced at 1am was completed at 6am. The C.O. having got all Companies into trenches. The ground was very bad with wire & much cut about by shell fire.” (10)
“Hostile shelling continued throughout and while in trenches the 11th Borders suffered a few casualties.” (11)
18/11/16, 10pm
“In the trench at approx 15.15 a bombing post was established & a little behind two Lewis guns were placed in position commanding both flanks. After dark several men, this is all who were left on the WAGON ROAD side of Munick Trench, returned after having held shell holes opposite the German line & in his wire to a position along WAGON ROAD. During the day & up till 10pm stretcher bearers were continuously over the top & about attending & bringing in wounded men.
These that were left of the Battalion were reorganised & WAGON ROAD placed in a state of defence by them. From accounts it is believed that several men got right through MUNICK Trench. Wounded men crawling back were continually sniped by enemy.” (12)
This was the day that George Haines was “seriously wounded in the stomach”. (13)
(14)
At best, he probably never made it further than an advanced dressing station or, at the most, a casualty clearing station. At the time of his death, he was 29 years old.
“Ninety two men of the Herefordshire Regiment who transferred to the 11th Border Regiment were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds, on the Somme during the period 18th – 25th November. The impact to Herefordshire was immense, many lost friends and family; many towns and villages suffered a loss.” (15)
Stanley Pinches, another Herefordshire 11th Border Regiment soldier, who is, likewise, commemorated on The Pembridge War Memorial, survived this action only to be killed nine months later. If there is any consolation, it is evident that George Haines died fighting with former Pals that he had enlisted with in the Herefordshire Regiment in the early days of the war. Transferring from one Pals battalion to another might well have created strong bonds between the men being transferred. So, it is very possible that George Haines and Stanley Pinches, at the very least, knew each other.
George Haines is buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension.
Above photo: Warloy- Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension (CWGC)
“The first Commonwealth burial took place in the communal cemetery in October 1915 and the last on 1 July 1916. By that date, field ambulances had come to the village in readiness for the attack on the German front line eight kilometres away, and the extension was begun on the eastern side of the cemetery. The fighting from July to November 1916 on the northern part of the Somme front accounts for the majority of the burials in the extension, but some are from the German attack in the spring of 1918. (CWGC)
Rory MacColl
Sources
1/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1916-dec.pdf
2/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/wars/wwi/
3/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1914-sep-regtl-history.pdf
4/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/wars/wwi/
5/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
6/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
7/ https://www.ww1cemeteries.com/redan-ridge-no-3.html
8/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
9/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf
10/ https://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/greatwar-day-by-day/viewday.php?dey=18&mth=November&year=1916
13/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1916-dec.pdf
14/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/1916-dec.pdf
15/ https://herefordshirelightinfantrymuseum.com/uploads/redan-ridge.pdf