Henry Bain (1888 - 1916)

Born 17 Aug 1888 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

Died 15 Sep 1916 at age 28 in Somme, France

Biography

Henry Bain lived in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand.

Henry Bain is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Henry Bain served in the New Zealand Army in World War I
Service started: 29 May 1915
Unit(s): 1st Battalion 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Service ended: 15 September 1916

Birth
Henry Bain was born on 17 August 1888 in Dunedin, New Zealand. ^[1] He was the son of William Love Bain and Annie Lyall. ^[2]

Henry was one of nine children. His family resided at 20 Bridgeman Street in Kensington, Dunedin.

World War One
Henry and three of his brothers enlisted for service in the First World War. Henry enlisted in May 1915. ^[3] At the time of enlistment, he was working as a painter. Henry was a rifleman with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was in the 1st Battalion 3rd Rifle Brigade. His service number was 23/992. He embarked for services overseas in October 1915, sailing from Wellington, New Zealand to the Suez in Egypt. ^{[1] [4]}

Sadly, Henry was killed in action on 15 September 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. ^{[5] [6]} Henry is commemorated at the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) War Memorial in Longueval, Somme. His grave is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. ^{[7] [8]}

Henry qualified for the 1914–15 Star, a campaign medal of the British Empire which was awarded to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who served in any theatre of the First World War against the Central European Powers during 1914 and 1915. ^[1] The medal was never awarded singly and recipients also received the British War Medal and Victory Medal. These would have been awarded posthumously to his family (in 1921 and 1922). ^[1]

1914-1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Obituary
Henry's obituary was published in the "Evening Star" on 2 November 1916:

KILLED, Rifleman Henry Bain (reported killed in action, September 15) is the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Bain, of 20 Bridgman Street, Kensington. He was born in Dunedin, and was 28 rears of age. He received his education at both Kensington and Forbury Schools. He was a painter by trade. He served seven years with the Dunedin Rifles. He left New Zealand with Lord Liverpool’s Own, Ist Battalion, and was in the engagement with the Senussi Arabs on Christmas Day. He came through scathless, and left Egypt for France with the main body, and was there the 29th May, then being wounded in the left arm. After making a speedy recovery and being discharged from hospital he was soon back in the trenches, where he remained up till the time of his death. He was well liked, and respected by all who came in contact with him. ^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Military Service Records: Archives New Zealand, BAIN, Henry - WW1 23/992 - Army (https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE11259945), accessed 15 April 2024
2. ↑ Birth Registration: “Births, Deaths & Marriages Online”,
   [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs (http://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz); Birth Registration: Henry Bain, parents: Annie and William Love Bain, citing registration number 1888/6025.
3. ↑ Newspaper item on enlistment: Evening Star, Issue 15801, 12 May 1915, Page 6, (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19150512.2.63.5), accessed 15 April 2024.
4. ↑ New Zealand War Graves Project: Rifleman Henry Bain (https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/node/1052/), accessed 15 April 2024.
5. ↑ Newspaper death announcement (picture): Otago Witness, Issue 3271, 22 November 1916, Page 28, Supplement, (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW19161122.2.71.3.3), accessed 15 April 2024.
6. ↑ Newspaper death memoriam: Evening Star, Issue 17148, 15 September 1919, Page 4, FOR KING AND COUNTRY. IN MEMORIAM. (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19190915.2.27), accessed 15 April 2024.
7. ↑ Memorial: "Commonwealth War Graves Commission", database with images
   Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Somme, France
   Commonwealth War Graves Commission Record (accessed 15 April 2024)
   Memorial page for Henry Bain. Service number: 23/992; Rank: Rifleman; Died: 15 September 1916.
   Regiment & Unit/Ship: 1st Bn. 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (New Zealand); Additional Info: Son of Mrs. W. D. Bain, of 20, Bridgeman St., Kensington, Dunedin.
8. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #15292552 (accessed 15 April 2024)
   Memorial page for Rifleman Henry Bain (unknown-15 Sep 1916), citing Caterpillar Valley New Zealand Memorial, Albert, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France; Maintained by Clancy (contributor 48290237).
9. ↑ Newspaper obituary: Evening Star, Issue 16261, 2 November 1916, Page 6, MEN WHO FELL. (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19161102.2.46), accessed 15 April 2024.

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: L41Y-967