John Hines

Who was John Hines?

John "Barney" Hines was a British-born Australian soldier of World War I, known for his prowess at collecting 'souvenirs' from German soldiers. Hines was the subject of a famous photo taken by Frank Hurley which depicted him surrounded by the loot he had captured during the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917. This image is among the best-known Australian photographs of the war.

Born in Liverpool, England in 1873, Hines served in the Royal Navy and King's Liverpool Regiment, as well as working in several different occupations. He arrived in Australia shortly before World War I began and volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. Although discharged due to poor health in early 1916, he rejoined in August that year and served on the Western Front from March 1917 to mid-1918 when he was discharged again for health reasons. During his period in France he proved to be an aggressive soldier, and gained fame for the collection of souvenirs that he amassed. Following World War I, Hines lived in poverty on the outskirts of Sydney until his death in 1958.