1884 Dec 18. Born London
1891census at 10 Stamford Hill, Hackney, London
1901census at Hackney
1902 Dec 18 Enlists in Royal Navy for 12 years
1907 Jan/Mar Married in London to Jeannette Marie Williams
1911 census
1911 Apr 22. Joins Territorial Army, 6th City of London Rifles. He had already served in the Navy (time expired). He was a fitter's labourer with the South. Met. Gas Co. Aged 31?
1914 Mar 26. Discharged from TA "Services no longer required"
1914 Aug 4. Re-entered navy in RNVR. The record seems to show that he spent a brief time in RND from Aug to Dec 1914, when he started sea training in RNVR
1915 Jan 24. Signaler on H M S Iron Duke when the Blucher was sunk off Doggar Bank. The Iron Duke did not actually take part in the action
1918 May 3. Discharged to attend Officer Cadet School, but appears to have been unsuccessful and returns to the Navy in Signal School Pembroke
1919 . His name does appear on the Naval Officers' Medal Roll as "Junior Officer Mercantile Marine" serving in "Archangel". Victory and BW Medals only
1919 Dec 12. Awarded Albert Medal. (The Albert Medal for Lifesaving was to recognise the saving of life. It has since been replaced by the George Cross.) The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Decoration, of the Albert Medal upon Mr. Samuel James Haines, Junior Officer, M.M.R. , attached to the Up-River Transport Service . On the 17th June last a fire occurred on a Russian motor-launch in the Harbour of Archangel , and a Russian tug and a picket boat from an American Man-of-War proceeded to render assistance , Mr Haines going in the tug . Just before the tug reached the launch an explosion took place on board the latter . Immediately the tug got alongside, the crew of the launch abandoned her. Mr . Haines at once went on board the launch and endeavoured to extinguish the fire, but being unable to do so, he ordered the other boats to lay off , while he went down into the magazine and brought upon deck a quantity of ammunition and a large quantity of gasoline and some rifles . Then calling the picket boat alongside, he passed these stores aboard her. While Mr. Haines was alone on board the launch, the cabin abaft the engine room and before the magazine took fire . The fire was ultimately got under control, but not before the launch had been gutted. Mr. Haine s displayed great gallantry in rendering the service, for had the fire reached the magazine an explosion would undoubtedly have occurred , and he would have had no chance of saving his life .
1920 Mar 5. To be Members of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order. Junior Officer Samuel James Haines, A.M., M.M.R. For valuable services in the Naval Transport Service, North Russia. He also has Russian St George and Russian St Stanislaus Medals
1920 Feb 24. Has a Seaman's Card as Baggage Master. Ship Official Number 109441 is the 'Scandinavian' which was managed by the Canadian Pacific line on North Atlantic routes. She was scrapped in 1923.
1920 Aug 27 Joined ADRIC with service no 241. Posted to D Coy.
1921 Nov 27. Allowed to resign on completion of 15 months service
1924 Sep 28 Arrives in Perth Western Australia on the P&O ship Balranald, as an AB looking for work, in a story covered extensively in Australian press for a few days, then he fades away. The captain of the Balranald was in fact Basil J Ohlson DSO Forum thread,
1929 Jul 13. Report of him rescuing people from a cinema fire.
1939 Register Living at 4a London Road , Twickenham M.B., Middlesex He is living with wife Jeanette M Haines. He is a MasseurAthletic Trainer
1945 Apr 27. Living in UK when his son was killed in WW2 CWGC entry . "Hugh James Haines, Son of Samuel James Haines and Jeannette Marie Haines, of Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk"
1945 Apr/Jun Died Yarmouth aged 61.
1976 His widow died in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk aged 88.
2007 Dec 13. His medals sold for £7000. The Russian intervention M.B.E., A.M. group of three awarded to Junior Officer S. J. Haines, Mercantile Marine Reserve, the Albert Medal being a unique award for this conflict. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, M.B.E. (Military) Member’s 1st type breast badge, hallmarks for London 1917; Albert Medal, 2nd Class, for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea, the reverse engraved, ‘Awarded by His Majesty to Samuel James Haines, Junior Officer, M.M.R., in Recognition of His Gallantry at a Fire in Archangel Harbour, 17th June 1919’; Russian Order of St. Stanislaus, 3rd class breast badge, with swords, by Albert Keibel, St. Petersburg, 41 by 40mm., gold and enamel, double-headed eagle and manufacturer’s mark on reverse, part ‘56’ gold mark on eyelet, the second with heavy contact wear and occasional dents to reverse, otherwise generally very fine