Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bernard Haines from Murrumbeena who enlisted at 14, serving as Charles Haines, sailed off to war aged 15 and was shot by Germans in the leg, in February 1917 requiring an amputation at the thigh when he was 16. Other serious wounds meant he was eventually shipped home. He had 41 operations at Caulfield Hospital and died there in 1926. He was 25 years old.

The Argus (Melbourne), 18 March 1926 EIGHT YEARS IN HOSPITAL
Military Patient's Death
General regret is expressed at the Caulfield Military Hospital at the death, on Tuesday afternoon, of Bernard Haines, who has been an inmate of the hospital for eight years. "Babe" Haines, as he was known, underwent 40 operations at the hospital, but was, nevertheless, one of the most cheerful patients, and was very popular with all. Shortly after the war broke out Haines enlisted, and sailed with the 20th Infantry Brigade of the A.I.F. He was then aged only 14 years, and for which reason that he was later referred to as "Babe." Soon after he landed in Egypt he was transferred to France, and at Bapaume, in 1917, after two years of service abroad, he was seriously wounded. It was found necessary to amputate one of his legs, and soon afterwards he returned to Australia, and was sent, eventually, to the Caulfield Hospital. He spent much of his time in the hospital in endeavouring to alleviate the sufferings of others. Soon after he entered the hospital he took woodcarving and art leather work as hobbies, and became very proficient in both.