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Austin Hines came to Ampleforth in September, 1900, and left three years later. He was a quiet boy and left before he was old enough to take a leading part in the School. But his companions had a high estimate of his intellectual abilities, an estimate borne out by the fact that he was consistently head boy in his form, and passed through the Lower and Higher Third Forms in one year. Though gifted he could hardly be called a scholar, his mind being of a practical bent. He was fond of both cricket and football, and played for the Second XI in the winter of 1903. A genial companion he had many friends. As an “Old Boy” he several times visited the college for the “annual retreat,” and many will recall his genuine happiness on these occasions and his enthusiasm for his old School.

When war broke out he was practising as a solicitor in Sunderland and East Boldon, where he had passed most of his life with his mother. Last April he joined the Artists Rifles and went shortly after to the Front to train with that corps. He was given a commission in the 10th Durham Light Infantry at the beginning of December. He was home on short furlough till December 2nd, when he joined his regiment at the Front and was fatally wounded and died on December 15th. He was a brother of Major Charles Hines, whose death was recorded in the last Journal. With the death of these two brothers Ampleforth has lost two loyal friends who were ever ready to give practical demonstration of their affection for their old School. We offer to Mrs Hines and her family the assurances of our heartfelt sympathy in this double calamity and in the sorrow which we share with them.

After the above was written we received a copy of the following letters written by brother officers of A. Hines to members of his family:

21/12/15

I was in charge of the defences of a village just behind the trenches about 5pm. An artillery officer friend of mine called on me in my dug-out and acquainted me with the fact that one of our officers was lying in his house and seemed very badly wounded. I went down to him immediately. He had been taken into this house on account of the shelling on the road. That he was being carried down the road at such an early hour indicated that his case was serious. My artillery friend grasped the situation at a glance, and phoned for a special ambulance to come to his place for Austin. This was at 6pm. The ambulances do not go within 1 1/2 miles of the firing line until 9:30pm. While waiting for this ambulance I had a chat with Austin. He was in great pain, and also under the influence of morphia, but talked to me quite freely, although weakly. We gave him a drink of hot tea, but he did not want to smoke. He dictated a short letter. I saw his case was serious, but I did not think he would die. The ambulance arrived at 6:30, and we placed him in it carefully, and well wrapped round with blankets. Then I next hear of him he was reported dead.

I must tell you that he was very brave, simply wonderful! Legs all shattered, a wound in the right fore-arm, and also under the chin, and he talked to me off and on for half an hour. No groaning, just a sigh or two, and a request now and then to readjust his pillow on the stretcher. Austin died bravely as you would have had him.

22/12/15

At 1:15pm on the 14th the Germans started bombarding our trenches with everything they had, and we had a bad time. Tremendous shells were landing and exploding right in our trenches.

Lieutenant Hines, with his Platoon, held the part of the trench next to that held by me. At about 2pm I heard he had been badly hit, so I went down to see him. i found him on a stretcher in the trench. having just been bound up. He was still conscious, but was terribly white, and, poor chap, had both legs practically blown off by a shell which exploded right in front of him.

I spoke to him and shook his hand, and he told me where I could get a flask in his dug-out, which I sent for. I asked him is he were suffering pain, and he said, “Yes, it’s terrible,” but he said it so that none but I could hear it, and during all the time that he was conscious he made no complaint whatever. He was so plucky. All he asked for was to be taken out and away from it all.

The shells were still falling very thickly all round, and owing to part of the trench being blown in, the only way to get him away was straight across the open. There were plenty of volunteers, as there always are for a dangerous job, and we has taken out by our stretcher bearer, his servant and two other volunteers.

That was the last I saw of him. He was seen shortly after by Lieutenant Butland, and was then still conscious, and able to speak to him. He was subsequently taken to the hospital where he died.

This is all I can say, but, rest assured, I mourn the loss of a friend and the Battalion of an officer of whom they were justly proud, one who knew no fear, and whose qualities would have brought him a the very top of the tree had be been spared.

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Contributed by Durham County Record Office