Private William Baines
The background of this North Irish Horseman is not known at present.
William Baines enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 9 or 10 November 1915 (No.1833). He embarked for France in 1916 or the first half of 1917, where he was posted to one of the squadrons of the 1st or 2nd North Irish Horse Regiments.
In August-September 1917 the 2nd NIH Regiment was disbanded and its men, together with some surplus to the needs of the 1st NIH Regiment, were transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Baines, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Baines was issued regimental number 41360 and posted to B Company.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917.
Baines was one of the many posted as missing following the 9th (NIH) Battalion's fighting withdrawal from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918 during the German spring offensive. It was later learned that he had been wounded.
No further information has been discovered about his service during the remainder of the war.