Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

Following a winter in the trenches the BEF was prepared to take the offensive against the Germans. The location was Neuve Chapelle, a small village in the front line below Aubers Ridge near Lille. Aubers Ridge was a low but significant hill and the intention at Neuve Chappell was to punch through the German front line, occupy the ridge and exploit with cavalry. It was a battle fought by two Corps of the BEF, the Indian Corps and IV Corps both largely consisting of regular battalions. It was to be preceded by the most violent artillery barrage of the war to date. Unfortunately in what was to be the start of the 'learning curve' for the BEF the artillery barrage, whilst violent, failed in some parts ? a failure that was to be costly and which delayed the assault and allowed the Germans to recover. Whilst the men were exceptionally brave they became bogged down as German machine guns and artillery stopped the momentum of the assault and by the end of the first day (10th March 1915) they were digging in. The following day the assault was repeated with fresh battalions but with no success. By the 12th March the Germans had recovered their poise, had brought in reserves and were ready to counter attack.

Neuve Chapelle (10-12 March 1915) was the first planned offensive battle by the BEF in France and achieved limited tactical success but not the expected breakthrough. It highlighted the problem of delay in execution that allowed the defending Germans to regroup, often consequent on small incidents and errors. Having stabilised the situation following the German sweep into France and the counter attack that eventually established static trench warfare on the western front, there was significant pressure on Britain to take a share of the burden from the French (who had without question had born the brunt of the fighting). Although the battle was effectively over by 12th March, the official battle nomenclature included actions in other sectors up to 22 April 1915 including the significant actions at St Eloi and at Hill 60 (Ypres).

Detail :

Sgt. Harry John Hines, No. 280. 4th Bn. Suffolk Regt. Killed in Action 12th March 1915. Age 41. Commemorated: Le Touret Memorial. Ref: Panel 9. Lodge JD Harry was born in 1874 to John H and Harriet Hines in Ipswich. He married Mabel Garnham, the daughter of John Garnham, a Farm Bailiff, and Eliza, from Westerfield, Suffolk at the end of 1901. The 1911 census shows Harry as a Corn Merchants Clerk living in Station Road, Framlingham with Mabel and son, John Herbert, age 8. Harry was a Sergeant in the 4th Bn. Suffolk Regiment and landed in France on 8th November 1914. His service number, 280, and NCO rank suggests that he may have been a reservist with the Territorial Bn, following service as a regular soldier. Probate was granted on 14th August 1915 in the sum of £223. Legend courtesy of W.Bro. Rod Gibson (Suffolk)

Masonic :

Junior Deacon

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley