HINES, John
| Service Numbers: | 3792, 2296 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 August 1915, Holsworthy, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
| Born: | Liverpool, England, 11 October 1878 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Seaman/Engineer |
| Died: | Natural causes, Concord Repat Hospital, New South Wales, 29 January 1958, aged 79 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rookwood Cemetery & Crematorium Section: M2, Row: 11, Plot 2576 |
| Memorials: | Mount Druitt Waterholes Remembrance Garden |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 3792, Holsworthy, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1916: | Discharged AIF WW1, 3792, Discharged as Medically Unfit | |
| 8 May 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Sydney, New South Wales | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney | |
| 8 Jun 1917: | Wounded Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Battle of Messines, GSW (right shoulder) | |
| 27 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), Polygon Wood, The well known photograph, 'The Wild Eye Souvenir King' - Pte. John 'Barney' Hines was taken by Photographer Frank Hurley | |
| 12 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), 1st Passchendaele | |
| 3 May 1918: | Wounded Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1), German Spring Offensive 1918, Shrapnel Wound (scalp), NYD (Not Yet Diagnosed) Gassed | |
| 2 Feb 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 2296, 45th Infantry Battalion (WW1) |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Just Soldiers" written by WO1 Darryl Kelly, published 2004, refer to chapter 13 pages 115 - 122. He enlisted in the AIF giving his age as 36 years. Recruit training saw him with many charges of AWOL and drunkenness - the last resulting in a huge punishment of 60 days detention plus 109 days loss of pay. He was attached to the 45th Infantry Battalion, and embarked for France in March 1917. "Barney" became renowned for going back into no mans land after a Unit activity to look for dead and injured members, and during these trips he took souvenirs from the enemy, and gained valuable income from the sale of these items among the allied soldiers. He also took many prisoners during many of the excursions. In 1917 he was granted leave to the UK, during which he caused plenty of trouble, and returned later than the date that his leave expired.. In the Spring of 1918 he was gassed and evacuated to a field hospital, and while there, German planes bombed the hospital which caused further wounds. He was repatriated to Australia and discharged as Medically Unfit. He survived after the war with selling the remaining items of souvenirs plus working at odd jobs. He died 29 Jan 1958. Rest in Peace Lest We Forget
Submitted 14 February 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Mad Scouser with a reputation as a thief... Never..
From John Owens
Mad Scouser with a reputation as a thief... Never..
Private No 2296 John (Barney) Hines of the Australian Imperial Force, 45th Battalion. 27 September 1917.
'Barney' Hines was also a kleptomaniac who became known in the trenches as the "Souvenir King". But he was one of the bravest soldiers at the front and would have been decorated many times had it not been for his lack of military discipline.
He earned his nickname because of his incurable habit of hijacking medals, badges, rifles, helmets and watches from the bodies of the German dead - and, in some cases, of those he captured.
He brought the Kaiser's wrath down upon his head when a photographer took a picture of him on September 27,1917, showing him surrounded by some of his loot after the Third Battle of Ypres.
Prints were circulated among the Diggers and inevitably some fell into the
hands of German soldiers - from whence they made their way to the infuriated Kaiser.
Born in Liverpool, England, in 1873, Barney Hines was always a rebel. Of
Irish descent, he ran away to enlist in the army at the age of 14 but was dragged home by his mother.
Two years later he joined the Royal Navy and saw action during the Boxer
Rebellion when he served on a gunboat chasing pirates in the China Sea.
Discharged the following year, he went gold seeking around the world and was in South Africa when the Boer War broke out. He served throughout it as a scout with various British units.
His lust for gold continued and he searched for it in the US, South America and New Zealand. But he was working in a sawmill in Australia when World War I broke out in August 1914.
Despite being in his early 40s, he immediately tried to enlist but was turned down on medical grounds. Undeterred, he haunted recruiting centres until he was accepted to serve in France in 1916 as part of a reinforcement for the 45th Battalion.
And, once in France, the legend of this huge, powerful man who never showed fear, began.
He generally disdained conventional weapons such as his .303 rifle, preferring to go into action with two sandbags packed with Mills bombs.
His commanding officer had a brain wave and gave him a Lewis gun, which was an immediate success. Hines was entranced by its spraying effect and announced in his broad Liverpudlian accent: "This thing'll do me. You can hose the bastards down."
Another nickname he earned was Wild Eyes and at a later date the commanding officer was heard to say: "I always felt secure when Wild Eyes was about. He was a tower of strength in the line- I don't think he knew what fear was and he naturally inspired confidence in officers and men."
One of Hines' pastimes was prowling around collecting prisoners and loot with enthusiasm.
On one occasion, annoyed at the sniper fire from a German pill-box, he ran straight at it, leapt on it's roof and preformed a war dance while taunting the Germans to come out. When they failed to comply, Hines lobbed a couple of Mills bombs through the gun port. A few minutes later the 63 Germans who had survived staggered out with their hands above their heads. Hines collected his "souvenirs" before herding his prisoners back to the Australian lines.
Another time he came across a battered German dressing station. Creeping in,he found the surgeon standing over the operating table and, on tapping him on the shoulder, Hines was amazed to watch him topple over - dead from a shell splinter in the heart. Only one man had survived - ironically a wounded Tommy who was on a stretcher on the floor out of the blast. Picking the man up as if he were an infant, Hines carried him towards safety but he died before reaching allied lines. Hines lowered him gently to the ground -then returned to the loot in the dressing room.
His booty wasn't confined to portable keepsakes. At Villers-Bretonneux he liberated a piano which he managed to keep for several days until he was persuaded to give it away.
On another occasion he scored a grandfather clock which he carried back to the trenches. But, after its hourly chimes were found to attract German fire, his mates blew it up with - what else? - a Mills bomb.
In Armentieres he came across a keg of Bass which he started to roll towards the battalion. He was stopped by military police and told not to go any further with it. Unfazed, Hines left the keg and went ahead to round up fellow Diggers who returned to drink it on the spot.
When the AIF reached Amiens they found the beautiful cathedral city deserted. It was too much for Hines. He disappeared and was finally sprung by British military police in the vaults of the Bank of France where he had already squirrelled away millions of francs, packed neatly in suitcases.
He was hauled off for questioning by the British who, nonplussed on what to do with the reprobate, returned him to his unit. Later he was to boast that the escapade had cost him no more than 14 days' pay and that he had been allowed to keep the banknotes he had stuffed into his pockets.
But for all his incorrigibility, he was an outstanding, if unpredictable soldier who managed to capture 10 German soldiers single-handed.
There were some near misses, too. At Passchendale he was the only survivor of a direct hit on the Lewis gun nest. Blasted 20ms. and with the soles of his boots blown off, he crawled back, got the gun working and continued firing until he fainted from wounds in his legs.
Hines was also renowned for the party he held at Villers-Bretonneux after he found a cache of 1870 champagne and tinned delicacies. His mates were all decked out in top hats and dress suits which he had also acquired.
It was to be his last party for some time. Just after it ended he scored a bullet wound over his eye, another in his leg and a whiff of gas. Despite protests, he was hospitalised at Etaples, being almost blinded.
A few nights later the Germans bombed the hospital, causing 3000 casualties. Hines hauled himself out of bed, found a broom which he used as a crutch and spent all night carrying the wounded and dying to safety.
After that he was invalided home and, in the ensuing years, despite his wounds, he worked as a drover, shearer, prospector and timber cutter.
He volunteered for World War II and, when he was turned down - he was now in his 60s - he stowed away on a troop ship. He was caught before the vessel got through the Heads and put ashore.
After a colourful life, Barney Hines died, penniless, in the Concord Repatriation Hospital, Sydney, on January 30, 1958, aged 84.
'LEST WE FORGET'.
Rest In Eternal Peace and Tranquillity Barney.
Submitted 26 October 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Aleena Biju
Private John Barney Hines
John 'Barney" Hines or Private John Hines was an Irish man born in 1881 in Liverpool, London. John was a Roman Catholic who was a heavily tattooed man in his 40's when was enlisted in the 45th Battalion. Joining the AIF in 1915, he was a troublesome Australian soldier in battle as he was frequently on absent without leave he faced several, charges for forging entries in his pay-book, and for drunkenness. On the battlefield, Hines was known as "Wild Eyes" or "Souvenir King" as he always stole all sorts of items from German Soldiers who are either dead or captured.
At the age of 14, Hines tried to join the British Army however his mother took him and returned him to her care. Approximately two years later, he joined the British Navy, however, after only one year working with the Navy, he attracted malaria and was discharged. Hines then started working as a guide for the British Troops in the Boer War, before coming to Australia and settling in Sydney, New South Wales. In Australia, John worked several different jobs, such as being an engineer. When World War One broke out, John tried to enlist in the AIF when he was in his mid 40's however he was rejected due to medical reasons. However, John persisted and was eventually enlisted on the 8th of May 1916 as a Private and sent to France for reinforcement for the 45th Battalion. The unit he was embarked from was Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A18 Wiltshire on the 22nd of August 1916.
During the World War One, he became well known for his continuous daring and enthusiastic attacks. Hines was hated by the Germans, especially Kaiser as he placed a price on John's head "wanted dead or alive". John was extremely good at wrecking German pill boxes as it threatened Australian Troops by using his favourite weapons, grenades (mill bombs) or his Lee Enfield rifle.
Hines was also well reputed for looting all sorts of items from the dead or captured German soldiers. He had mastered the skill of stealing from the Germans that he became known as the "Souvenir King". Hines had stolen many types of items such as badges, watches, helmets, guns and jewellery while continuously carrying out marvellous attacks on the German Troops. It is suspected that John had killed more German Soldiers than any other person in the AIF.
On one occasion he had gotten a hold of a German pill box, and to get them to come out of hiding, he danced on the roof taunting them. When there was no response, Hines threw some grenades into the openings killing some German soldiers and forcing the others (approximately 63 German soldiers) outside. He collected his souvenirs and took the German soldiers to the Australian lines.
Hines was heavily injured when he was wounded at Passchendaele by an exploding shell causing him to be flung 20 yards away and killing every person that was part of the Lewis gun crew. The soles of John's boots had been ripped off from his boot by the explosion but had managed to crawl to back to safety and keep firing at the opponent until he had fainted from his wounds. After he had healed, John was soon back in action until he was injured again after being shot by a bullet above the eye and caught in a gas attack he was sent back to Australia.
When John had fully recovered from all the injuries, he had taken up several jobs such as droving, timber cutting and prospecting. He never got married or had any children. Private John Hines died on the 29th of January 1958 due to natural causes in Concord Repat Hospital in Sydney, New South Wales.
Bibliography:
Aif.adfa.edu.au. (2017). Details. [online] Available at: https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=138485 [Accessed 16 Jun. 2017].
Annie, l. (2017). John 'Barney' Hines | Military History Forum. [online] Militarian.com. Available at: http://www.militarian.com/threads/john-barney-hines.7221/ [Accessed 19 Jun. 2017].
Australiansatwar.gov.au. (2017). Australians at War. [online] Available at: http://www.australiansatwar.gov.au/stories/stories_war=W1_id=145.html [Accessed 19 Jun. 2017].
Design, U. (2017). Private John (Barney) Hines | Monument Australia. [online] Monumentaustralia.org.au. Available at: https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/people/military/display/22354-private-john-barney-hines/photo/1 [Accessed 21 Jun. 2017].
Memorial, T. (2017). Barney Hines | The Australian War Memorial. [online] Awm.gov.au. Available at: https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/fiftyaustralians/24 [Accessed 19 Jun. 2017].
Rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au. (2017). John (Barney) HINES. [online] Available at: https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au/explore/people/52296 [Accessed 13 Jun. 2017].
Biography contributed by Paul Trevor
Digger comrades dubbed [Hines] 'Wild Eyes' and his escapades soon became famous. Disdaining to use his .303, he went into action clutching two sand bags stuffed with Mills bombs. Battalion officers recognised his natural fighting ability but despaired of ever turning him into a trained and disciplined soldier.
Lieutenant Colonel Allen thought of attaching the big fellow to a Lewis gun. Hines was entranced by the weapon and it spraying power. 'This'll do me', he growled...'it's just like hosing the bastards down'. SOURCE. Anzacday.org.au (anzacday.org.au)
The information stated above on Pte. John 'Barney' Hines of his Personal Details have been collated from his National Archieve documenation and Service Records. The source (information) used is from the second attempt of May 1916 and his succesful bid in enlistment. The information he scribed on this Attestation Paper, he has declared as true and correct upon enlistment within the AIF.
It is noted from information on the internet (unfortunately at times unreliable), post World War 1 newspaper articles and even Researcher's themselves, that there are discrepancies exist with regards to such things as his age, birth, prior military service, employment, etc. and even the military events and actions of the First World War that Pte. 'Barney' Hines had been involved in or portrayed as undertaking.
An example of these discrepancy that is continually written about in articles is the year of his birth. I have come across birth years listed from anywhere between 1873-1883 which portray his age at death in 1958 of somwhere between 75-85 years of age.
I have include links to some of the more thorough researched articles so the reader can come to there own conclusion about the exploits and legends of 'the man', Pte. John 'Barney' Hines.
Some of the helpful links that I used while researching this profile of Pte. John 'Barney' Hines were -
Anzacday.org.au (anzacday.org.au) - thoroughly researched article that includes Pte. Hines Service and Casuality Forms, including that a street in subrburban Minchinbury (Blacktown, NSW) named in his honour.
Australians at War (www.australiansatwar.gov.au) - some of the more obscure exploits of 'Barney'
Anzac Research (banzacresearch.runboard.com) - more exploits of Pte. Hines
These links all tell of differenet exploits of this man on and off the battlefield fighting the 'hun' and the troubles that he brought upon himself when coming to the attention of the military authorities.
Biography contributed by Colin Holland
John “Barney” Hines was born John Heim (Johannes Heim) on 11th October 1878 in Liverpool, England. This date of birth is based on his baptism record from St Joseph’s RC church, Grosvenor Street Liverpool. His civil birth registration gives a later date that is untrustworthy as it appears an alternative date was submitted in order to avoid late registration of the birth. Another date, 12th October, was likely the date Hines thought he was born as it appears on his “Heim” Royal Navy record and his “Hines” New South Wales criminal record reference 14800. John Heim was the son of German immigrants, Jacob and Dora Heim, who settled in Liverpool in the 1860s. His father was one of the many Liverpool-Germans employed in Liverpool’s sugar refining industry. The family lived in the Scotland Road/Vauxhall Road area of Liverpool, a very industrial environment near to the north Liverpool docks. It was the part of Liverpool that was most heavily settled by the Liverpool-Irish in the 19th century.
Why don’t we already know this information? Firstly a lot of people with a German family background on the British Commonwealth side in the two world wars kept it quiet. There were incidents of mobs attacking German owned or German sounding businesses. Many Germans were interned. German loyalty to the cause was doubted despite the sons of German immigrants often being among the first to volunteer. Secondly contrary to popular belief Hines was not always a loner. He left a wife and two children behind in Liverpool. He was a seaman at the turn of the century and around 1903 or 1904 landed in New Zealand never to return to his former life. He was by all accounts a difficult man. His 1895 British Army record marks him as “non Effective” and his 1896 Royal Navy record shows that he was “Discharged as objectionable”. Despite his rough edges and criminality, perhaps exacerbated by alcohol, he found himself to be most effective in combat, “a tower of Strength” to his fellow soldiers in the Australian 45th Batallion.
Here are some points to support the case for Heim being John "Barney" Hines to encourage biographical changes wherever he is mentioned. His early years are an interesting part of his story and should be brought to public attention. There may be other supporting information but these points spring to mind at this moment in time:-
1. Hines’ mother: Dora, Heim’s mother: Dora (see Australian Army record and johnheim.webs.com)
2. Hines’ sister: Mary Thompson, Heim’s sister: Mary Thompson (see Australian Army record and johnheim.webs.com)
3. Hines’ family address: 23 Eldon Place Liverpool, Heim’s sister Rose Ann Cleary was at that address in 1915 (see Australian Army record and johnheim.webs.com)
4. Hines’ First criminal record gives his date of birth as 12 October, Heim’s Royal Navy record gives his date of birth as 12 October (see NSW Criminal record 14800 and johnheim.webs.com)
5. Hines was in the British Army, Royal Navy and a merchant seaman so was Heim (see johnheim.webs.com)
6. Hines first appears on record in New Zealand in 1904, Heim appears on Liverpool Electoral Registers, at court 6 house 5 Silvester Street in 1902-03 and 1903-04. He doesn't appear on any Liverpool records after 1903-04. His next appearance on record then is as John Hines in New Zealand in November 1904 (see johnheim.webs.com and NSW criminal record 14800).
7. Hines' appearance and character match Heim (see Hines' NSW criminal records 14800 & 17589, Australian Army record and Heim's Royal Navy record on johnheim.webs.com)
Click on my John Heim website (johnheim.webs.com) for more information
Click images to start slideshow.