A Great War D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Baines, Leicestershire Regiment

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Laing’s Nek, Belfast, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, unofficial rivets between second and third clasps (6775 Pte. J. C. Baines. I: Leic: Regt.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. J. C. Baines.); Territorial Force War Medal 1914-19 (Major J. C. Baines. Leic. R.); Territorial Decoration, G.V.R., silver and silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919, with integral top slip on brooch bar, mounted for wear; together with the related miniature awards, the D.S.O. in gold and enamel, these similarly mounted, and all housed in an ‘A. & N.C.S., London, fitted case; together with a small piece of shrapnel, this probably a memento of his being wounded, light contact marks, very fine and better (6) £1,400-£1,800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The David Laban Collection of Territorial Force War Medal Groups.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 18 September 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer commanded the battalion during a week's fighting with great skill in difficult circumstances, having only joined it the day before. He was constantly in touch with them all, and kept the brigade well informed of the situation, besides filling up gaps with his reserve companies. On one occasion when the line was bent back he counter-attacked at once, restoring the situation. Owing to his close liaison with other units the relief of the brigade was much facilitated.’

John Cecil Baines was born at St. Peters, Leicester in 1876 and attested for the the Leicester Regiment on 26 January 1900, having previously served with the Regiment’s 1st Volunteer Battalion. He served with the 1st Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War and was discharged on his return on 30 May 1901. His service papers show entitlement to the clasps for Laing’s Nek and Belfast; however, the medal rolls for the 1st Volunteer Battalion the Leicester Regiment confirm entitlement to all four clasps.

Baines is shown in the November 1914 Army List as a Captain in the 4th (T.F.) Battalion, Leicester Regiment, with seniority from 14 May 1909, and as Instructor of Musketry. He served with the 4th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 22 February 1917, and was also sometime attached to the 2/5th Battalion, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, and the 14th Battalion, Leicester Regiment. He was promoted acting Lieutenant-Colonel whilst commanding a Battalion on 12 April 1918, and was wounded by gun shot to his left leg. Awarded the Territorial Decoration in 1919 (London Gazette 19 August 1919), he died at Leicester on 26 January 1928.