Photo: Judith Whelan private collection

Medal Index Card

No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne

No.13 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne

Sunderland Echo Tuesday 20/11/1917

Peter Baines, was born in Silksworth in 1881, Co Durham. He married Ruth Coxon, at Easington Register Office on the 22nd October 1910.

Peter and Ruth then resided at 13 Pilgrim Street, Murton Colliery, Co. Durham. They had 2 children, Ralph was born 20th August 1911 and Mary Coxon born 10th April 1913. He was employed as a Miner.

Peter before he attested with the DLI, had already served 5 years with the Volunteer force, before signing on for another 3 years.

He attested on the 8th September 1914 at Sunderland. He was then posted to the 14th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as 15659 Private Baines. His age was 30 years and 1 month.

He was wounded severely on the 14th November 1915, where he was admitted by number 64 Field Ambulance, from the battlefield. A36 Army form confirming his admittance to the Field Ambulance. He then was transferred to number 8 Casualty Clearing Station (which was then located at Bailleul) before being transferred to number 13 General Hospital at Boulogne. Peter was then shipped to the UK on the 'SS' Newhaven on the 9th December 1915.

He recovered from his wounds and was then posted to the 16th Battalion Durham Light Infantry from the 3rd of June 1916 to the 7th July 1916, where he was posted back to the UK suffering from Shell shock. Whilst in the 16th Battalion, he was reported absent for 7 days between the 5th of December and the 11th of December, his punishment was confinement to barracks for 7 days.

He then was transferred to the Army Reserve before finally being discharged on the 31st March 1917, under Kings Regulation 392 (xvi).

Peter was awarded the Silver War badge. (The badge was awarded to all of those military personnel who had served at home or overseas during the war, and who had been discharged from the army under King’s Regulations. Expiry of a normal term of engagement did not count and the most commonly seen reason for discharge and issue of the badge is KR is 392(xvi), meaning the soldier had been released on account of being permanently physically unfit.)

He was classed as A Res Class 'W'.

He died at home on the 15th November 1917.

Acknowledgement : Judith Whelan

Additional research: James Pasby

He was the cousin of Adam Ward who also died in WW1.

Peter Baines is remembered at Murton on M47.01, M47.02, M47.04, M47.06, M47.08 and M47.09

Peter Baines has no CWGC entry. He is not in the DLI Book of Remembrance.