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In commemoration of Private Thomas Haines, formerly a ringer at this tower, who died of wounds whilst fighting for his country in WW1 100 years ago today

1: first away from cover

(attrib. www.roll-of-honour.com)

HAINES Thomas, Private 326327, 1/1st Battalion, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Died of wounds 26 September 1918. Aged 27. Enlisted Wisbech. Son of Mr. W. Haines and Mrs. A. Haines, of 1, Canal St., Wisbech. Formerly 3580, Cambridgeshire Regiment. Buried in Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Plot I. Row E. Grave 33.

(attrib. Alan Regin, CCCBR and printed in Ringing World #5602 pp860/861)

Private Thomas Haines, Wisbech,

Peterborough & District. Died 26/09/1918

age 27. Cambridgeshire Regiment 1st/1st Bn.

Service No.326327. Commemorated at Doingt

Communal Cemetery Extension, France,

Grave I E 33. Born 21/06/1891. One of nine

children, six surviving at the 1911 census.

Son of Manning William Haines and Anne

Maria Haines (née Thomas) of 1 Canal Street,

Wisbech. At the time of the 1911 census, he

was working as a baker. He learnt to ring at

Wisbech in 1909 and was a very keen and

enthusiastic ringer. He rang his first peal on

18/10/1911 at York Villa, Wisbech, ringing

the second (only) to a handbell peal of Plain

Bob Minor, conducted by Charles Goakes; it

was the first peal by four of the band and all

rang one bell. He rang the opening touch on

the restored six at Newton-in-the-Isle in May

1912, and he rang his first tower-bell peal there

shortly afterwards, on 26/06/1912; this was the

first peal on the bells. He rang another single

handed handbell peal of Plain Bob Minor on

30/10/1912, and on 31/12/1912, he rang 3 and

4 to a handbell peal, also Plain Bob Minor,

the other four bells being rung by just one

person. On 25/06/1913, another handbell peal

of Plain Bob Minor was rung, but this time

by three ringers, Thomas again ringing 3-4.

On 01/10/1913, the same three ringers rang

a 10,080 of Plain Bob Minor, conducted by

Ralph Narborough. A further 5040 was rung

on handbells on 22/02/1914. All the handbell

peals took place at York Villa, Wisbech, the

home of Ralph Narborough. This final peal

was rung as a farewell to Thomas, who was

leaving Wisbech to work in London. To wish

him well, the Wisbech ringers presented him

with a pendant, shaped as three bells; one

wonders where that is now? He appears to

have rung at Acton while he was in London,

ringing quarter peals of Grandsire Triples there

on 07/06/1914 and on 16/08/1914. He seems

to have returned to Wisbech in order to enlist.

Born: Kings Lynn. Enlisted: Wisbech, initially

with Service No.3580, still Cambridgeshire

Regiment. Resided (1911 census): 11 Canal

Street, Wisbech.