Tuesday 11 March 2025
Lieutenant Bill Haine VC MC and the 1st Battalion Honourable Artillery Company in the
Great War
Michael Orr
Lieutenant (later Lieutenant-Colonel) Reginald Leonard (Bill) Haine VC MC was a member of the 1st Battalion’s No 3 (or C) Company and went with it to France on 18 September 1914.
He was awarded the VC for his actions at Gavrelle on 28-29 April 1917 during the battle of Arras, when, as stated in his citation:
‘our troops, occupying a pronounced salient, were repeatedly counter-attacked. There was an ever-present danger that if the enemy attack succeeded, the garrison of the salient would be surrounded.’ His ‘superb courage, quick decision and sound judgement were beyond praise, and it was his splendid personal example which inspired his men to continue their efforts during more than thirty hours of continuous fighting.’
Haine later served in the Indian Army’s 35th Sikhs and was awarded the Military Cross for his actions on the North-West Frontier of India on 17 May 1919.
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