Next of Kin plaque : Private Lionel Haines, 12th Battalion, AIF

Bronze next of kin plaque showing Britannia and a lion together with the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR'. The name of the dead soldier, 'LIONEL HAINES', is inscribed in raised letters within a raised rectangle. The initials 'ECP', for the plaque's designer Edward Carter Preston, appear above the lion's right forepaw. The plaque has been set into a block of wood for display. The wood has bevilled edges and the three of its edges have been painted jade green. There are also remnants of the same paint in the bevilled wooden recess of the plaque.

Born in Melbourne in 1894 Lionel Haines was one of three siblings whose parents died when they were very young. A family friend, Charles Vincent of Mathinna, Tasmania took them in and raised them. Haines was employed as a labourer when he enlisted in the AIF at Claremont on 5 August 1915. After training there and in Melbourne he was posted a private, service number 4326, to the 13th Reinforcements for 12th Battalion. He embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT A19 Afric on 5 January 1916.

Arriving in Egypt on 11 February Haines underwent further training before moving to France for service on the Western Front in early April. He was formally taken on strength of 12th Battalion on 24 June. Haines was wounded in the shoulder at Mouquet Farm in August and was evacuated to hospital in England. He was convalescent by the end of September, and after leave in England underwent training at Perham Downs and then again in France, eventually rejoining his battalion on 29 March 1917.

On 14 April 12th Battalion relieved 9th Battalion in the frontline at Lagnicourt. Haines was killed the following day. His body was not recovered for burial and his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.

This memorial plaque was sent to his brother William Ronald Haines in March 1922. William was born in 1897. He married Ada Flanagan, and their only son was named Lionel in honour of his uncle.