British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A rare Great War M.M. group of three awarded to Sergeant L. A. Haines, 1st Australian Pioneer Battalion, late 5th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force: wounded on at least three occasions, he was originally recommended for the D.C.M. for his gallant deeds at Zonnebeke in October 1917

Military Medal, G.V.R. (4203A Sjt. L. A. Haines, 1/Aust. Pr. Bn.); British War and Victory Medals (4203 Sjt. L. A. Haines, 5 Bn. A.I.F.), surname officially corrected on the second, generally good very fine (3) £1200-1500

M.M. London Gazette 17 December 1917. The original recommendation - for a D.C.M. - states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the vicinity of Zonnebeke during operations on 4 October 1917. Sergeant Haines showed initiative and coolness in allotting men their numerous tasks whilst under heavy barrage fire. Although badly wounded in the head he remained on duty until the completion of a communication trench between the two Divisional flanks. He also assisted stretcher bearers in getting wounded men over difficult country.’

Lewis Arnold Haines, a farmer from Diggora, near Rochester, Victoria, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1915 and was embarked for France - via Alexandria - on 29 December of the same year. Advanced to Corporal in August 1916, he was wounded by a gunshot in the left knee on the 24th of the same month and evacuated to the 4th Northern General Hospital in England. Having then rejoined his unit in France, he won his M.M. for the above cited deeds near Zonnebeke, east of Ypres, on 4 October 1917, when he received a head wound but remained on duty. However, as verified by his service record, he was again wounded - in the right thigh - on the 14th of the same month, this time being evacuated to hospital in the U.K. Having once more then rejoined his unit in France, in February 1918, Haines was finally re-embarked for Australia in July 1919 and discharged that November; also see Lot 623 for his brother’s awards.