Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Chaplain to the Forces 1st Class the Reverend W. C. Haines, Army Chaplains’ Department

Ashanti Star 1896, reverse contemporarily engraved ‘Rev. W. C. Haines Chpln. to the Forces’; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein (Revd. W. C. Haines. C.F.) edge bruising and heavy contact marks, nearly very fine, rare (2) £1000-1400

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Awards to Chaplains formed by Philip Mussell.

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Willoughby Charles Haines was born on 24 July 1858, and educated at the University of London, and as a Theological Associate at King’s College London. Ordained Deacon in 1882, and Priest in 1883, he was vicar of Theddlethorpe, Lincolnshire, from 1884-87. Appointed Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class, on 5 November 1887, he served at Aldershot 1887-91, Winchester 1891-97, Gibraltar 1897-1901, Portsmouth 1901-04, Malta 1905-08, Shoeburyness 1908-10, and Dover 1910-17. He sailed for the Gold Coast in the Coromandel with Prince Henry, and served in the Ashanti from 7 December 1895 to 17 January 1896. Promoted Chaplain to the Forces 3rd Class on 5 November 1897, he served in South Africa during the Boer War 1899-1900, and was present during operations in the Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, including the actions at Coleburg, 1 January to 12 February 1900; was present at the Relief of Kimberley; and at operations in the Orange Free State from February to May 1900, including the actions at Paardeberg, 17-26 February 1900, at Poplar Grove, and at Driefontein.

Promoted Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class on 5 November 1902, and 1st Class on 5 November 1907, his name was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for valuable War Services in 1916 whilst at his last posting at Dover, and he was awarded a Silver War Badge on 24 January 1918. He returned to parish life as Rector of Wyck Rissington, Gloucestershire, in 1917, and held the living there until his retirement in 1934.

One of only two Ashanti Stars awarded to the Army Chaplains’ Department.