Baines S

SYDNEY BAINES (1899-1918)

53369, Private Sydney Baines, 15^th/17^th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own) was killed in action 12 April 1918 and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium [1] and St. Helen’s Colliery Memorial Cottages. He was 19 years old, the son of John and Elizabeth Baines.

Family Details

Sydney Baines was born c.1899 at Bishop Auckland, the son of John and Elizabeth Baines. There were at least 7 children:

James born c.1878
Ada born c.1883
William born c.1885
Fred born c.1889
Ethel born c.1892
Hilton born c.1897
Sydney born c.1899

All children were born at Auckland, St. Andrews (Bishop Auckland) except James who was born at West Auckland. The family lived at Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland.[2] By 1911, John was a widower and James, Ada, William, Ethel, Hilton and Sydney lived with him at Woodbine House, Tindale Crescent. [3] Sydney Baines’ service details indicate that he had another brother, Albert and 2 other sisters, Jane and Mary. Their then address was 12 Brentwood Terrace, Tindale Crescent. [4]

Service Record

Sydney Baines enlisted 2 April 1917 at the age of 18 years 2 months. He stood 5ft.5¼” tall and weighed 120lbs and worked as a labourer.[5] His service reckoned from 22 June 1917. He was posted to the 277^th Infantry Battalion 24 September 1917, transferred to the 52^nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment 4 November 1917 then to 15/17^th Battalion West Yorkshires 2 April 1918. He entered France 1 April 1918. [6]

The 277^th and 52^nd Battalions were training battalions. The 15^th and 17^th (Service) Battalions (1^st and 2^nd Leeds) amalgamated in December 1917.[7] The 15^th Battalion, known as the Leeds Pals came under the command of the 93^rd Brigade, 31^st Division. [8] The 17^th Battalion came under the command of 106^th Brigade, 35^th Division and left November 1917. [9] It is therefore assumed that the 17^th Battalion joined the 15^th in the 31^st Division.

The German Spring Offensive: The Battle of Lys 9-29 April 1918: a summary

The German Spring Offensive entered its second phase and the Battle of Lys raged 9 -29 April 1918. The phase known as the Battle of Estaires took place 9-11 April and the 31^st Division was involved. The Battle of Hazelbrouck 12-15 April followed and the defence of Nieppe Forest saw the 31^st Division in action.[10] The 31^st Division was bussed up to the Outtersteene area from billets near Arras. It was placed at the disposal of the First Army. The 93^rd Brigade was positioned to the east of Outtersteene, to the west of Bailleul. During the morning of 12 April the 92^nd Brigade moved forward behind the village of Doulieu and the 93^rd was in support. But, the remnants of the 40^th Division were being scattered by the German onslaught therefore GOC 31^st Division Major-General Bridgford decided to use his support, the 93^rd Brigade in a counter-attack to stem the German advance. Covered by only one 18-pounder, the advance was successful and a dangerous situation was averted.

12 April: Reinforcements began to arrive. The 5^th Division detrained west of Nieppe and the 1^st Australian Division arrived at Hazebrouck. The main German attack was directed against the 31^st and 29^th Divisions defending the line between the forest and Bailleul. During the day the line was forced back. [11]

15/17 West Yorkshire Regiment: in action [12]

11 April: in billets at Merris and in the Brigade Reserve. The battalion was ordered into the line in support of the 13/York & Lancaster Regiment and 18/DLI and these 2 battalions carried out an attack on La Becque. The Battalion HQ was established at Noote Boom.

12 April: 7.30pm 4 officers and 100 other ranks formed part of a composite battalion with personnel from other units in the Brigade and took up a defensive position in front of Merris.

8.30pm: The remainder moved to Hondegheim then ordered to retire to the railway and hold the position together with 2 battalions of the brigade. Very heavy machine gun fire was directed against the battalion.

“The enemy tried to work round our right flank and the Commanding Officer formed a defensive flank to guard against attack. This party engaged the enemy and enabled the main part of the other two battalions and some of our own to fall back on the road in front of METEREN and there all three Battalion Commanders decided to march their men through the outposts of the 33^rd Division and to reorganise behind the lines held by the latter. This was done and the defence of METEREN orgainised. The battalion entrenched themselves in a line from the high ground South of METEREN to a point half way down the road between METEREN and BAILLEUL.

15^th: This position was held until the morning of the 15^th when they were relieved by the Tank Corps and proceeded to BORRE. In the meantime “B” “C” & “D” Companies had held the Farm House behind the position A.8.d.8.8. and had put themselves under the command of the 11^th Suffolk Regiment. After very hard fighting these three Companies then took up a position at about the two “L.Ls” in BAILLEUL (Ref. Sheet HAZEBROUCK 5.A.) and on the position becoming untenable they occupied a line from St. JANS CAPPEL to MT. NOIRE on the evening of the 14^th and remained there during the 15^th and 16^th April.” [13]

Orders were received to rejoin their own Battalion at Borre, which had actually moved to Hondeghem but the party joined them there 17 April. During these operations there were many casualties including Lieut. Colonel C.W. Tilly killed in action 14 April.

“The total casualties were:

Killed in Action: 3 Officers and 23 Other Ranks
Wounded: …….6 Officers and 153 Other Ranks
Missing: ………..2 Officers and 143 Other Ranks
…………………..11 Officers and 319 Other Ranks”[14]

Later research records that between 12 and 17 April, the 15/17^th Battalion lost 77 other ranks, killed in action or died of wounds. 69 other ranks died 12 April 1918 including Private S. Baines.[15]

Private Sydney Baines served a total of 295 days, 282 at home and 13 in France.[16] He was awarded the British War and Victory medals.[17]

Commemorations

The Ploegstreert Memorial, Belgium – Private Sydney Baines has no known grave and is commemorated on this memorial which pays tribute to more than 11,000 servicemen of the UK and South African forces who similarly have no known grave. The sector covered the line from Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton in the north to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes to the south including the towns of Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul and Armentieres, the Forest of Nieppe and Ploesteert Wood. Many did not die in major offensives but were killed in the course of day-to-day trench warfare which characterised this part of the line – small scale set engagements usually carried out to support major attacks elsewhere. [18]

References:

[1] Commonwealth War Graves Commission

[2] 1901 census

[3] 1911 census

[4] Army Form

[5] Army Form Medical History

[6] Army Form Casualty

[7] http://www.1914-1918.net/westyorks.htm

[8] http://www.1914-1918.net/31div.htm

[9] http://www.1914-1918.net/35div.htm

[10] http://www.warpath.orbat.com/battles_ff/1918_pt1.htm

[11] “The Battle of the Lys: the British Army on the Defensive in April 1918” Geoffrey David Blades 2012 thesis King’s College