HAINES, Lancelot Frank
| Service Number: | SX1882 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1940, Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 5 May 1915 |
| Home Town: | Firle, Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Wool Classer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Syria, 11 June 1941, aged 26 years |
| Cemetery: |
Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria |
| Memorials: | Adelaide WW2 Wall of Remembrance, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Cowell Franklin Harbour WW2 Roll of Honour, Cowell War Memorial |
World War 2 Service
| 1 Mar 1940: | Enlisted Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Mar 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Lance Corporal, SX1882, 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Jun 1941: | Involvement Lance Corporal, SX1882, 2nd/31st Infantry Battalion | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement |
Lance Frank Haines
Lancelot (Lance) Frank Haines of Mitchellville grew up in the Cowell district and learned wool-classing at the Adelaide School of Mines. After gaining his qualification he spent time working on stations in northern South Australia. Lance Haines was aged 25 years when he enlisted in 1940. His brothers, Charles and Richard also served during World War 2.
Haines embarked Australia on the 'SS Strathmore' with the 2/10th Battalion on 24 June 1940 for Liverpool, England. In October 1940 he transferred to the 70th Battalion (which was re-titled the 2/31st Battalion). Haines was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in November 1940. The 2/31st Battalion embarked Gournock (Scotland) in early January 1941 and disembarked in the Middle East on 9 March 1941.
Upon arrival in the Middle East the battalion moved to Palestine for training, then occupied positions at Mersa Matruh (Egypt) to bolster the defences along the Libyan frontier against an expected German attack. In late May 1941 the 2/31st returned to Palestine for the invasion of Syria and Lebanon. Their first major engagement in eastern Lebanon was around Khirbe, a small town in south-eastern Lebanon. Advancing in the early hours of 8 June, the 2/31st moved close to Khirbe without encountering resistance. Shortly after they were then subjected to heavy fire from artillery, mortars and machine guns. Attempts were made to advance throughout the early morning, but Khirbe, located atop a hill, was an excellent defensive position and little progress was made. The effort to capture Khirbe was called off mid-morning. The defences of Khirbe were probed and tested for the next two days, which included an ill-conceived and costly sortie by some Bren gun carriers on 10 June. A renewed attack on Khirbe was launched at 2.30am on 11 June. Khirbe was reached just on dawn and, after a short vicious fight with grenades and bayonets, soon fell to the Australians at a cost of 16 killed and 34 wounded.
Lance Corporal Haines was one of those Killed in Action on 11 June 1941. He was buried at the Police Post, Beyrouth (Beirut) and later reburied at the Damascus British War Cemetery.
The local newspaper reported ‘Haines was well liked by all whom he came in contact with and quite a gloom was cast over the town and district when word was received of his untimely death’.
Submitted 24 October 2024 by Colleen Peters
Biography contributed by Beverley Stocker
Lance was son of Mr WM and the late Mrs Haines of Mitchellville. His brothers Charles and Richard also served in WW2. Lance's name is inscribed on the Cowell Street Monument.
Biography contributed by Colleen Peters
Lancelot (Lance) Frank Haines of Mitchellville grew up in the Cowell district and learned wool-classing at the Adelaide School of Mines. After gaining his qualification he spent time working on stations in northern South Australia. Lance Haines was aged 25 years when he enlisted in 1940. His brothers, Charles and Richard also served during World War 2.
Haines embarked Australia on the 'SS Strathmore' with the 2/10th Battalion on 24 June 1940 for Liverpool, England. In October 1940 he transferred to the 70th Battalion (which was re-titled the 2/31st Battalion). Haines was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in November 1940. The 2/31st Battalion embarked Gournock (Scotland) in early January 1941 and disembarked in the Middle East on 9 March 1941.
Upon arrival in the Middle East the battalion moved to Palestine for training, then occupied positions at Mersa Matruh (Egypt) to bolster the defences along the Libyan frontier against an expected German attack. In late May 1941 the 2/31st returned to Palestine for the invasion of Syria and Lebanon. Their first major engagement in eastern Lebanon was around Khirbe, a small town in south-eastern Lebanon. Advancing in the early hours of 8 June, the 2/31st moved close to Khirbe without encountering resistance. Shortly after they were then subjected to heavy fire from artillery, mortars and machine guns. Attempts were made to advance throughout the early morning, but Khirbe, located atop a hill, was an excellent defensive position and little progress was made. The defences of Khirbe were probed and tested for the next two days, which included an ill-conceived and costly sortie by some Bren gun carriers on 10 June. A renewed attack on Khirbe was launched at 2.30am on 11 June. Khirbe was reached just on dawn and, after a short vicious fight with grenades and bayonets, fell to the Australians at a cost of 16 killed and 34 wounded.
Lance Corporal Haines was one of those Killed in Action on 11 June 1941. He was buried at the Police Post, Beyrouth (Beirut) and later reburied at the Damascus British War Cemetery.
The local newspaper reported 'Haines was well liked by all whom he came in contact with and quite a gloom was cast over the town and district when word was received of his untimely death'.
Click images to start slideshow.