Newspaper

Ampleforth Journal 1914/15, obituary:

Major Charles Hines was killed on Whit Monday, May 24th. He had been previously wounded, but returned from the dressing station to his post in the firing line. His death is thus described by his Colonel in words which require no embellishment from us:

“You hay have heard by this that poor Hines was killed and buried. One of my men helped. I have lost an awful lot of men and officers, but can only speak of Major Hines… He always loved soldiering, and died one of the bravest men who have lost their lives here. He would not retire. He could have left his post, but his duty was to stay, and the last anyone saw of him he was firing away at the enemy. His loss is very hard for the regiment. Since he came here Hines had proved himself to be one of the finest officers it is possible to have.”

In a letter dated May 15th Colonel Vaux spoke of his work on a previous occasion:

“The officers are well and working splendidly. Five hundred men under Major Hines went out to dig last night, right up to within fifty yards of the enemy, and got away without drawing fire. That says something for training and luck.”

Charles Hines came to Ampleforth in 1886 at the age of twelve, and left in 1892. Eldest of several brothers who have been in the school, he was a boy of very decided character and pronounced views. He was a fine footballer and an enthusiastic cricketer. After he left, by the death of this father he early became the head of the firm of solicitors, Messrs, Hines & Sons, with which his family had been associated for many generations. To him also, while still very young, was entrusted the care of this father’s large family. In the old days of the Volunteers he was an enthusiastic volunteer, and of late years no one who talked to him for long could fail to discover his great interest in the territorial movement and soldiering in general. His visits to Ampleforth were frequent and regular. For twenty years he is said only once to have missed the Easter Retreat. He was also an unfailing visitor at the Exhibition, and for several years had brought a cricket team against the School. By his death we have lost a loyal friend, and an Old Boy of whom we are justly proud. To his mother, Mrs Hines and her family, we offer our deepest sympathy.

The following is the last letter he wrote to Father Abbot from the Front:

21 May 1915

Dear Fr Abbot,

I am just dropping you a line to let you know I am still alive and well and to enclose your for the Museum a small memento of the run of Ypres Cathedral. It is absolutely demolished and the sights one saw there I never hope to see repeated – Words absolutely fail to describe what one felt – You could simply stand and stare aghast – The hideous wantonness of it all is astounding – Pillage, plunder and ruin, on all sides.

You will see from the papers that we have been having a tough time lately. If things continue at their present pace somebody must collapse before long and I don’t think it will be our side.

Our life here is a curious one – at times starving, at others in abundance – at all times dirty and grubby and yet always in good spirits.

Dangers to life and limb are always with us, but so far I have had only narrow escapes and I must say on the whole I enjoy the life – When it is raining, cold and muddy, one does get somewhat low spirited, but when the sun appears again we forget all the discomforts.

It is strange in an absolutely deserted country amid the crash and shriek of shot and shell to hear the birds singing away as if nothing were the matter – The nightingale I have heard more than once.

It makes one think.

You will have received my post card of some weeks ago. I happened to meet in a town where we are resting for a day or two a cleric who from his garb was obviously OSB [Order of Saint Benedict]. His habit I thought warranted my accosting him and I found he knew you – So small is the world. He was the Abbot De Saegher recently of Louvain and now alas! a wanderer.

My brothers Arthur (RAMC) and Austin (Artists) are somewhere out here, too.

The roll of Amplefordians in the service must now be a long one.

We seem to be poorly supplied with Chaplains. I have only seen one since we came out.

Please remember me to all and ask them to pray for our cause and safe return.

With kind regards to yourself, believe me still

Yours sincerely

Chas W Hines


Ampleforth Journal website:
http://www.ampleforthjournal.org/

Contributed by Durham County Record Office