242135 2nd Lt. William Henry Baynes MM.British Army 1st Btn. Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment from:8 Black Griffin Lane, Canterbury (d.12th Oct 1918) William Baynes was my Great Uncle. Unfortunately, I never met him
but have completed some research. William signed up for the war in 1914.
On 10th of November 1916 he appeared in the Gazette for London and Edinburgh as he had received the Military Medal, he was a Serjeant at the time. Later he was made a Second-Lieutenant.
He appears in the War dairies on 29th of June 1917 during the Battle of Arras. During an operation aiming to clear Kitten trench of the enemy. William and others began to move into their appointed places in Lump Lane ready for the action. Conditions included knee deep mud from heavy rain the evening before.
The ground between Lump Lane and the objective was nothing but a mass of shell holes. Only the right wave of the advance succeeded, a small party of bombers led by William. It became evident that the enemy was present in strength and the surprise attack had failed and it was decided not to proceed. William and the four men with him became isolated having run out of bombs or grenades. 2nd Lt. Ashpitel was sent with a party of picked men to cover Williams' withdrawal to Lump Lane which was successful.
Shortly after, during the Third Battle of Ypres 2nd Lt. Baynes was
listed as injured.
I have traced my Great Uncle to Netley Hospital, Southampton where he died on 12th October 1918.
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