This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
Click here to go to the Main page
Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Private. 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards. Service no. 10169.
Early life:
Norbert was born on 25th February, 1890 in Keighley and his birth was registered there in the second quarter of the year.
His parents were Edward Baines aged 33 and Margaret Ann Baines née Lancaster, aged 27. He was baptised by Canon Edward Watson at St Anne's Roman Catholic Church in Keighley on 6th April, 1890. At the time of the baptism they were living on High Street in Keighley.
Little is known of Norbert's early life but it appears his parents lived in several places, including Leeds, Keighley and London and apart from Norbet Richard they had three other children, who were Edward Norbert Baines, born 2nd May 1885 and baptised at Leeds on 11th May. He died age five in 1890 (just 11 days before Norbert Richard was born.) Winefride Rose Baines was born on 27th December 1887 and baptised at Leeds on 8th January and died at the age of 7 months in the summer of 1888; and Wilfred Baines born 1892 and sadly died just one week later.
There is a 1901 census record for Wood Green at Hampstead in London, which shows that an eleven year old Norbert Baines of Keighley was a scholar orphan at St Vincent's Orphanage for little boys. This establishment also admitted children in who weren't orphaned, but were from families who were in difficult circumstances. No other census records have been found under his name.
Norbert's father Edward died in 1910. At the time of his death, he and Margaret were living at Fern Cottages in Palmer's Green, Middlesex. His 1911 probate record shows he left £1244 1s. 3d to Margaret. The family grave at Southgate Cemetery in London has details of Edward's death on 25th April 1910 and Margaret's death on 25th September 1927 and it also includes inscriptions remembering all their children.
In 1911 Norbert was boarding with 74 year old widow Mary Theresa Lyons and her 40 year old daughter Mary at 71, Crescent Road in Wood Green, London. Norbert was single, aged 21 and working as a tourist office clerk.
War service:
At some point Norbert had moved to Edinburgh and was 24 years of age and working as a clerk when he attested for the Scots Guards on 5th September 1914, just a month after war was declared. His medical details were as follows: Height, 5 feet 10 inches; Weight, 133 lbs; Chest, 34, 1/2 inches; Complexion, fresh; Eyes, brown; Hair, brown. He had a scar on the inner side of his right knee and his religious denomination was given as Roman Catholic. He was issued with the service number 10169 and he went down to Caterham in Surrey to begin his training with the 3rd Battalion on 8th September.
A week later he injured his chin when he had a fall on the ground, he had fainted after vaccination and there was also some blood coming from his right ear, but this was apparently due to 'otitis,' an old ear infection. He was admitted to hospital at Caterham on 16th September and was discharged to duty on the 28th after thirteen days.
After seven months service in the UK, he was medically examined on 31st March 1915 and found fit for service. Next day the 1st April, he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion and on the 2nd April his particular draft of the Battalion embarked for France.
Overseas service:
The Second Battalion had been overeas since 7th October 1914 and Norbert had embarked in France on 2nd April 1915. He was very likely to have been part of a draft of 165 men led by Second Lieutenant Clark which joined the Battalion at their billets at Rue Bacquret and later, Laventie. On 9th April they route marched about seven miles to Saille Estaire. They spent the next day on work parties and attended Church Parade on the 11th.
They spent several weeks training for the front lines, consisting of field training, route marching, fatigue parties and drill parades.
This preparation for trench duty continued for the next two weeks until they went into the trenches for the first time on 21st April at Rue Bacquerot, relieving the Yorkshire Regiment. The next few days saw them exchanging fire with the enemy lines and being shelled and they were relieved by the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders at 8.30 pm.
They entered the trenches again on 27th April, when they relieved the Bareily Brigade consisting of Indian Troops and the 4th Battalion Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) in Winchester Road.
Trench map ref: (Sheet 36.M.23.d) This road is D.168 on the modern map, 2 miles S of Laventie.
The first two weeks of May saw them in and out of the trenches with a major attack being prepared. The attack was postponed a number of times. Preparations had been made by cutting a 100 yard wide section of the German barbed wire where the attack was to take place.
The Battalion left HINGES at 6 pm on 15th May and marched to the junction of RUE DE BOIS & RUE DE EPINETTE at 8.40 pm. Owing to a somewhat heavy fire sweeping the ground they were unable to proceed any further above ground, so filed down the communication trench via the INDIAN VILLIA to their position in the British trenches just W. of PRINCES ROAD. By 11 pm the whole Battalion was in position.
During the night the British wire, which had been previously cut, was removed from in front of our own lines, and the ladders placed in postition to facilitate the assaulting parties debouching over our parapet. The night was warm and all the men got some rest.
16th May. At 2.45 am the Artillery commenced their bombardment, the men were stood to arms, packs taken off, and each man received a 'tot' of rum.
Our assault was preceded by a half hour artillery bombardment commencing at 2.45 am.
At 3.12 am (three minutes before the bombardment was lifted) the the first two platoons lined up at the foot of the ladders. I got the word to assault, the object being to get over the open space in front of the German parapet under cover of the last three minutes of the fire of the bombardment. The first line advanced too rapidly and were temporarily held up by the shell bursting on the enemy's parapet.
We had earlier removed our own wire and we went over the parapet at 3.12 am in a two platoon wide front, with succeeding platoons following in the same pattern until eight lines had gone over the top giving the attack 'strength in depth.' They advanced across the open space behind the artillery bombardment and were to swing left handed for QUINQUE RUE. In the din and excitement of the battle, many of the men failed to swing round and rushed forward. The attack continued through the day and was counter attacked and reinforced on both sides until the objectives had been taken.
The whole of F Company were missing as was one platoon of LF Company, and RF Coy had only thirty men left. Some 37 men of F Company eventually having fought their way back after a German counter attack. A large number of Germans surrendered.
Norbert was reported missing on 16th May 1915 and presumed to have died on this date.
After Norbert's death:
Norbert's next of kin were his mother Margaret Ann Baines living at 124, Station Road, Wood Green and his Aunt Elizabeth of Fern Cottage, Palmer's Green, London.
A Red Cross prisoner of war card exists with details of an enquiry made on 23rd September 1915 by Margaret A. Baines of Meeton(sic) House, Shanklin, Isle of Wight. No response is recorded on the card, but it does indicate that she made an enquiry.
On 28th October 1915 his mother wrote to the Commanding Officer, Battalion Guards Division:
Dear Sir, is it possible that you could give me any news whatever of my only child., Pte. N. R. Baines. No. 10169. Right Flank Coy, 7th Division 2nd Scots Guards, who was reported wounded & missing after the engagement at Festubert on May 16th?
Could you tell me of any officer or man, who was in that engagement, & had the luck to come through and return home? The suspence is almost more than I can bear, it seems so strange to me, that in the first instance he should be reported wounded only. Surely someone knew it, or was it only guess work? Up to now I have failed to find any trace whatever of him, after numerous enquiries.
I would be most grateful if you could give me any information.
Thanking you in anticipation. I remain yours faithfully, (Mrs) Margaret A. Baines.
Margaret received a reply, which had been sent to her on 30th October 1915:
Madam, in reply to your letter of the 28th instant, I am extremely sorry not to be able to give you any information regarding your son, No. 10169 Pte. R. N. Baines, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. News of any kind have not yet come to hand of several of our men reported missing after operations on the 16th May last at Festubert, he being amongst them.
You may rest assured that should any information regarding him come to this office, it will be communicated to you immediately.
Yours faithfully, A. C. Douglas, Captain, Regimental Adjutant, Scots Guards.
On 1st April 1916 a letter from the War Office to the Officer Commanding Scots Guards, Buckingham Gate, S.W. that the Army Council had officially decided that Private Baines was to be regarded for official purposes as having died on or since the 16th May 1915.
On 12th June 1916 his mother Margaret replied to a letter:
17, Dumbarton Road, Brixton Hill, S.W.
November 14th 1921.
Sir, In reply to yours of Nov 10th, my permanent address is 'Hillcroft,' Wilton Road, Shankling, Isle of Wight, but for the next few days it will be as above. Re, my late son's regimental number Pte. N. R. Baines 10169, Second Scots Guards.
Thanking you.
Beg to remain, Yours truly, Margaret A. Baines.
Margaret was the sole legatee in Norbert's will and received his outstanding pay amount of £8 16s 2d on 12th July 1916, followed by a war grauity payment of £3 on 1st July 1919. She received and signed for his 1914-15 Star on 1st April 1920 and his British War Medal and his Victory Medal on 18th November 1921. She would also have been sent his named memorial plaque and the King's certificate in honour of his sacrifice.
Norbert's name appears on a number of war memorials:
Le Touret Memorial, France.
Our Lady and St Thomas of Canterbury – WW1 plaque - IWM Reference 11178.
Shanklin St Blasius' Church Scroll of Honour - 1914 – 1918 IWM Reference 21867.
Shanklin War Memorial, Isle of Wight. - IWM Reference 21850.
Family grave, memorial inscription: Norbert R Baines (WMR 81299), Enfield, Greater London
Source information:
England & Wales Marriages 1837-2005
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
1901 England Census
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Scots Guards Service Records 1799-1939
Trustees of the Scots Guards Charitable Fund
Scots Guards Enlistment Registers, 1799-1939
Soldiers Died in the Great War
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Scotland, National War Memorial Index, 1914-1945
British Red Cross & Order Of St John Enquiry List, Wounded & Missing, 1914-1919
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
Find A Grave.com
Imperial War Museum
www.isle-of-wight-memorials.org.uk
National Archives war diaries - 2nd Battalion Scots Guards. WO-95-1657-3
Note:
The 1901 census record is likely to be correct for Norbert, because St Vincent's Orphanage for little boys did take children who weren't necessarily orphaned, but were from families who were in difficult circumstances.