Hubert Leslie Baynham was born on 8 December 1892 and was the youngest of the 5 children of George Harris & Lucy Ann Baynham of 8 Page Street, Swansea. His father’s occupation was a Railway Accountant.

He was educated at the Municipal Secondary School, Swansea, being admitted in September 1905 and leaving in July 1911. In his application to become an officer, his headmaster provided the following reference In school subjects he excelled in English and Drawing and out of school he was a distinguished athlete - also a good cricketer and a Fives Champion. He later held the Welsh Record for High Jump and 100 yards. He was a thoroughly satisfactory boy at school from all points of view, and was universally popular and respected by masters and boys.

His records also state that he attended Technical College, St Pauls College, Cheltenham and London University from which he matriculated in 1912.

Like all other pre-war members of the Territorial Force, H.L. Baynham was mobilised at the start of the First World War. His service record states that his occupation was Student Schoolmaster and he was described as 5 foot 11 inches (or 5 foot 9 inches on another page), fair complexion with light hazel eyes and light brown hair.

Following the War, he looked for alternative employment and as early as March 1919, he applied for Colonial employment and ultimately joined the Royal Irish Constabulary as a Detective Inspector at Callan station in Kilkenny with a police number of 69949.

He married Margaret Mary O’Brien in Roman Catholic Cathedral in Cork on 23rd June 1920. He gave his profession as an officer in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The couple went on to have 4 children.

In the 1939 Register, he gave his occupation as Advertising Agent and Pensioned RIC Officer. He also reported that he was in the Officers Emergency Reserve and in October 1939, he rejoined the army as an officer in the Royal Artillery.

No records have been found of his service in the Second World War but one of his children, Derrick Hubert was awarded the George Medal in August 1941 at the age of 17 when he, along with a friend, unsuccessfully attempted to save a downed Polish airman in a small dinghy in high seas off the Anglesey coast. Derrick was subsequently commissioned in the Royal Signals, Mentioned in Despatches whilst serving with the Guards Armoured Division and ended his military career as a Brigadier and was appointed as an honorary ADC to the Queen.

Hubert Leslie Baynham passed away on 9 February 1988 in Droxford, Hampshire.

Hubert Leslie Baynham enlisted as a Gunner in the 4th Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade (renamed the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade in September 1908) at Swansea on 6 May 1908 at the age of 17 years and 5 months. This would have made him one of the very first new recruits into the Brigade, He was given the service number of 76.

His service records are very unusual in that, despite, the destruction of a large proportion of First World War records in the Blitz, 2 separate service records have survived for him. The first relating to his period with the 1st Welsh Howitzers and the second to his subsequent engagement in the Royal Garrison Artillery and ultimate commission.

Gunner Baynham was a good Territorial Force soldier, attending the summer camps and being promoted to Acting Bombadier on 1 July 1910 and Bombadier on 5 July 1911 and at the end of his 4 years initial service he re-engaged and extended his service.

He was mobilized on 5 August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War and travelled with the Brigade to Northampton where he signed his Imperial Service Form on 5 September, volunteering for overseas service. He, along with the Brigade, subsequently moved to Cambridge and transferred to the Brigade Ammunition Column shortly after arriving there on 26 December 1914.

On 3 March 1915, he got into minor trouble in Cambridge. He was charged with Irregular conduct when in charge of a wagon. for which he was reprimanded.

It is reasonable to assume that he moved to Bedford with the rest of the Brigade in May 1915 and a newspaper article confirms that he took part in a Water Polo match in Bedford in June 1915 when his Brigade beat the 3rd Welsh Brigade three goals to one.

Records confirm he travelled to France with his comrades in November 1915, leaving Southampton on the 21st and arriving in Le Havre the following day. In France, the Brigade underwent front line training in the Somme area during December, which at the time was a quiet sector.

In January 1916, the Brigade was ordered to rejoin to rest of the 53rd Welsh Division in Egypt, and Bdr Baynham embarked at Marseilles on 5 February, landing in Alexandria on the 10th.

By this time, he was approaching the end of his Period of Engagement and like a number of other members of the 1st Welsh Howitzers, he returned to England for discharge on the HT Euripides on the 9 May 1916.

Bombadier Baynham was discharged on 26 May 1916 at the end of his Period of Engagement. His total service with the 1st Welsh (Howitzer) Brigade was 8 years and 21 days. In his service record, it states that his character was Very Good and he Has carried out his duties in a very satisfactory manner and taken interest in his work.

Just 6 weeks later, Hubert Leslie Baynham re-enlisted in Royal Garrison Artillery on 11 July 1916 and was given the new service number of 105843 and immediately promoted to Bombadier.

Once again, he progressed through the ranks and was appointed Acting Corporal on 5 March 1917 and posted to 348 Siege Battery on the 8th of the same month.

On 11 June 1917, he returned to France and he was also confirmed in rank as a Corporal. He was posted to the 28th Siege Battery on the 16th who were located near Arras and were involved in counter-battery fire and bombarding enemy trenches. He remained with the unit until he returned to No 2 Depot in England on 21 August 1917.

In July 1917 (presumably whilst in France), he applied for commission and was accepted at No 1 RGA Officer Cadet School at Trowbridge. His officer training started on 15 December 1917 and finished on 17 April 1918. HIs final report stated Standard of Education - VG. Military Knowledge - VG. Power of Command and Leadership - VG. Special Qualifications - Gas & Riding.

Hubert Leslie Baynham was commissioned as a Temporary Second Lieutenant on 13 May 1918 (published in the London Gazette of 29 May 1918) and transferred to No 4 Siege Artillery Reserve Brigade in Aldershot, unfortunately, no records have been found that describe what he subsequently did.

Temporary Second Lieutenant H.L. Baynham was gazetted out of service on 9 November 1919. He was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Hubert Leslie Baynham subsequently joined the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1919 and according to the London Gazette of 15 November 1939, was re-commissioned as a 2nd Lt in Royal Artillery on the 28th October 1939.