King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Soldiers of the Regiment

Private John Baines MM

Private John Baines enlisted into the 5th Territorial Force Battalion of the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment on 10th June 1915 and was allocated the number 3818.  He underwent his military training with the 2nd/5th Battalion of the King's Own and was posted overseas to join the 1st/5th Battalion on the Western Front on 1st September 1915.  He was 19 years of age on enlistment, employed as a grocer and lived at 20 New Street, Carnforth, Lancashire.  His number was changed to 241416 as part of the army wide renumbering of the Territorial battalions in 1917.

He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry during the Battle of Givenchy in April 1918.  He died of wounds on 8th August 1918.  The official publication of the MM was made in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 7th October 1918.  He is buried in Pernes Military Cemetery.

Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War and Allied Victory to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2957/01-04

Memorial Plaque to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2957/05

Gallant Conduct Card, 55th West Lancashire Division to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, for action between 9th April 1918 and 14th April 1918 at Le Touret.
Accession Number: KO2957/06

Military Medal Card, XI Corps, to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, “for gallant conduct and determined devotion to duty in action”
Accession Number: KO2957/07

Memorial silk ribbon to the memory of Private John Baines, number 241416, Stretcher Bearer, 1st/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, died of gunshot wounds, 8 Aug 1918 in his 23rd year.
Accession Number: KO2957/08

War Graves Commission card for Private J Baines, 241416, 1st/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Pernes British Cemetery.
Accession Number: KO2957/09

Grave of Private J Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Pernes British Cemetery.
Photo by L Turgill, 106 New Oxford Street, London
Accession Number: KO2957/10

Army Form B 104 -82 Letter dated 13 Aug 1918 notification of the death by wounds at 22 Casualty Clearing Station, France on 8 Aug 1918 of private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2957/11

Army Form B104-121 Letter dated 23 Oct 1918 stating the place of burial of Private John Baines as being Pernes British Cemetery, France.
Accession Number: KO2957/12

Letter to Mrs M Baines from the Imperial War Graves Commission regarding the additional inscription on the headstone of Private John Baines MM: “Johnny” May his reward be / As great as his sacrifice. / May he rest in peace.
Accession Number: KO2957/13

Letter to Mrs M Baines from the Imperial War Graves Commission acknowledging payment of 3 shillings for the Register of Pernes British Cemetery and Churchyard. 17 Jun 1922.
Accession Number: KO2957/14

Official Certificate from King George V which comes with the Memorial Plaque. Mounted on card and discoloured.
Accession Number: KO2957/15

Souvenir Card of the 1/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Named to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2957/16

Official First World War Memorial Scroll to Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2957/17

Private John Baines, number 241416, 1st/5th Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Wearing the divisional badge of the 55th West Lancashire Division and a ‘Stretcher Bearer’ arm band. Photo by G Wynspeare Herbert, Lancaster. Autographed by photographer on mount.
Accession Number: KO2957/18