Second World War Medal Group – Corporal Eric Baines, 5th Divisional Signals Regiment
1939-45 Star – unnamed as issued
Africa Star – unnamed as issued
Italy Star – unnamed as issued
France & Germany Star – unnamed as issued
War Medal – unnamed as issued
With box of issue, slip, British Army of the Rhine certificate, photograph of a Canadian soldier taken in Oldham (where Baines was from), and a record of service document.
Eric Baines was born in 1922, and served during the Second World War with the Royal Signals under service number 2380076, attaining the rank of Acting Lance Corporal.
His surviving Record of Service card confirms that he served with the Royal Signals from 8 January 1942 until 8 February 1947, a period covering the height of the Second World War and extending into the immediate post-war occupation period. His Class A release on 8 February 1947 indicates demobilisation following full wartime service.
Baines’ campaign medal entitlement was extensive, consisting of the 1939–1945 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, France & Germany Star, and War Medal, confirming service across multiple major theatres of the war. This combination strongly suggests a long and varied operational career, moving through several of the British Army’s key campaigns, including North Africa, the Italian Campaign, and the North-West Europe campaign following D-Day.
A particularly notable surviving document within the group is a British Army of the Rhine certificate, awarded to “2380076 Cpl. E. Baines, 5th Divisional Signals Regiment”, dated 1 January 1947. This certificate records that he had “performed outstanding good service, and shown great devotion to duty, during the occupation of Germany,” and further confirms that this commendation was to be formally noted in his Record of Service. It is signed by a Lieutenant-General, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine, representing official recognition of his conduct during the occupation period.
His service with the 5th Divisional Signals Regiment places him within the communications element of the 5th Infantry Division, a formation heavily engaged in multiple theatres of the war. As a member of the Royal Signals, Baines would have been responsible for maintaining vital communications networks—an essential and often underappreciated role underpinning all operational activity.
Following the war, Baines applied for his medals, as shown by his Army Form for the Issue of Campaign Stars and Medals, dated 24 October 1949, giving his address as 62 Spencer Street, Oldham, Lancashire. This provides a clear post-war link to his civilian life and confirms the standard delay in issuing campaign medals after demobilisation.
Eric Baines’ service represents that of a career wartime signaller, serving from 1942 through to the occupation of Germany, taking part in multiple major campaigns and receiving official commendation for his conduct during the final stages of his service.
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AJMS Medals