Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of George Baines a general labourer, born 1855 in Edith Weston, Rutland and his wife Jane Zillah Baines (nee Woodcock, married in the 3rd quarter of 1876 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1857 in Hambleton, Rutland. Herbert, a schoolboy was born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 in Hambleton and was baptised on the 17th June 1885 in Hambleton, his siblings were John Robert, an agricultural labourer, born 1877 and baptised on the 27th May 1877 in Hambleton, George William, a schoolboy, born 1880 and baptised on the 5th September 1880 in Hambleton, Ernest, a schoolboy, born 1882 and baptised on the 30th August 1882 in Hambleton, Sarah Annie, a schoolgirl, born 1883 and baptised on the 17th June 1885 in Hambleton, Mabel Ellen, born 1887 and Georgina Kate, born 1889 and baptised on the 3rd November 1889 in Hambleton, all his siblings were born in Hambleton, in April 1891 the family home was at Hambleton. Herbert’s mother died in the 1st quarter of 1892, aged 35 and was buried in Hambleton on the 23rd February. In March 1901 Herbert was employed as a domestic gardener and was residing in the family home at Hambleton, together with his father, a domestic usher, his stepmother Susan Baines (nee Lambert, married in the 4th quarter of 1892 in the Oakham, Rutland district), born 1871 in Empingham, Rutland and his sibling, Georgina and half blood siblings, Walter Edward, born 1893 and baptised on the 6th May 1894 in Hambleton, Florence Ada, born 1894 and baptised on the 6th May 1894 in Hambleton, George, born in the 4th quarter of 1895, and baptised on the 1st December 1895 in Hambleton, Arthur, born 1897 and baptised on the 4th April 1897 in Hambleton, Alice Mary, born 1898 and baptised on the 4th December 1898 in Hambleton and Clara, born 1900 and baptised on the 13th May 1900 in Hambleton, the latter six siblings were all born in Hambleton. In April 1911 Herbert was absent from the family home in Upper Hambleton, residing there was his father, a domestic gardener, his step mother and half blood siblings, George, a domestic garden boy, Arthur, a farm boy, Alice, a schoolgirl, Clara, a schoolgirl, Lovick, born 8th January1902 and baptised on the 6th April 1902 in Hambleton, Leonard, born 1903 and baptised on the 15th January 1905 in Hambleton, Edith Blanche, born 28th September 1904 and baptised on the 15th January 1905 in Hambleton and Wilfred, born 21st August 1907 and baptised on the 23rd August 1907 in Hambleton, the latter four siblings were all born in Hambleton, Herbert was serving as a Private with the 1st Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and was stationed in Aden. Prior to the outbreak of war Herbert had seen ten years of military service, five in Egypt, he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 5th November 1914, he was awarded the 1914 Star, British War and Victory medals. Herbert’s half brother George also fell in action.
The War Diary records: 12 Mar-15 – NEUVE CHAPELLE. On the morning of the 12th we moved back to our previous position into the German trench. The Battalion remained in these trenches all that day and the night. It was between 12.00 and 1.00am, 13th that Captain C. G. V. WELLESLEY was killed – he had been ill and away from the Regiment previous to this, and had only just rejoined before a shrapnel burst from the left – mortally wounding him and about ten others.
The War Diary records: 13 Mar-15 – NEUVE CHAPELLE. Next morning we went into support of the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES returning again to these trenches during the afternoon (?). On the evening of the 13th we relieved the ROYAL IRISH RIFLES in trenches North East and East of NEUVE CHAPELLE. During the night nothing unusual occurred. We strengthened our defence – and filled in trench, which was full of half buried Germans.