Richard Gough Talbot Baines

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Photo source: Bob the Greenacre Cat, FindaGrave.com

Richard Gough Talbot Baines was born in Wimbledon on the 29th January 1914, the son of Alexander and Mary Baines (née Gough). His father was a civil servant, working for the Board of Education. Richard Baines was baptised on the 25th March at St. Mary’s Church, Wimbledon, officiated by his grandfather, E. Spencer Gough, the Rector of Barningham. 11 years early he had officiated at the marriage of Alexander and Mary. He had an older sister, Janet Baines, who was born in 1906.

We see Richard Baines for the first time in the 1921 census, aged 7 years and 5 months old, when he and his mother were recorded as visiting Frederick Mitchell & Elsie Kathleen Elliott at their home, Treskelly, Marnhull, Dorset. His father and sister were recorded as being at home at Thorndale, Chislehurst, Kent on the day of the census.

The next time we see Richard Gough Talbot Baines is at Shrewsbury School. He is mentioned in the Shrewsbury School Register for the Michaelmas Term 1927 – "7960 = BAINES, Richard Gough Talbot (SH) 1 1932. F Xl. Shooting VIII. RMC Sandhurst. Major, Hampshire Regt. K in action D-Day 1944."

On leaving school he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a cadet in 1932 and was commissioned in 1934. He then joined the 1st Battalion, Hampshire Regiment which was serving in India, on the North West Frontier. At the outbreak of war the battalion was first deployed to Egypt and then arrived in Malta in 1941. It remained on the island during the seige of Malta and after the seige was lifted the battalion took part in the assault on Sicily. In November 1943 the battalion returned to the UK for the first time in 22 years. They then began training for Operation Overlord.

On the 6th June they landed on Gold Beach. They were tasked to capture Le Hamel and Asnelles-sur-Mer but they faced stiff resistance from the defenders. The narrowness of the beach and presence of mines added to the difficulty of the job. But they were able to capture the villages of Le Hamel and Asnelles-sur-Mer before moving on to capture the German strong point at Arromanches which included a radar station. However, casualties were heavy and Richard Baines was one of five officers killed in D-Day.

He was initially buried at Asnelles-sur-Mer before he was reinterred in the Bayeux British Cemetery on the 02nd November 1944.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Unfortunately, we do not have a photo of Richard Baines. If you are aware of one, or you are related to Richard, we would love to hear from you so we can add to his story.