Lieutenant Edward Osborne Kaines served in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War. He was the son of Arthur Edward Kaines and Mary Hannah Bertha Kaines (née Cowan) of Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Edward was the husband of Freda Kaines (née Wilkinson) of Salisbury Place, Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. He received his education at Crossley and Porter School, Halifax, West Yorkshire and during the Second World War, he served on HMS Fowey.
Edward died in a road collision at Ballyrobert, Helen’s Bay, Co. Down on 29th June 1941 aged 38 years old. He was 1 of 6 passengers in a car driven from Bangor to Belfast by Dr. Audrey Lavelle. Also in this vehicle was the Dr’s brother Royal Navy Surgeon-Lieutenant Ronald Lavelle. At around mid-day, the car collided head-on with the taxi of Frank Wallace. The impact threw Kaines from the vehicle.
With the two cars locked together in the middle of the road, a 3rd car, driven by solicitor Henry J Catchpole of 391 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast ran into the back of Lavelle’s car causing further damage and injuries.
The injured parties
| Last Name | First Name(s) | Address | Role | Injuries | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawlor | Elsie | 6 Chichester Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim | Civilian | Head injuries and a fractured right leg. | Bangor Hospital |
| Jacob | John | Belgravia, Belfast, Co. Antrim | Royal Navy Lieutenant | Head and facial injuries and shock. | Bangor Hospital |
| Jacob | Doreen | Belgravia, Belfast, Co. Antrim | Wife of John Jacob | Head and facial injuries and shock. | Bangor Hospital |
| Criley | Kathleen | Dorsey, Newry, Co. Down | Civilian | Head injuries and shock. | Bangor Hospital |
| Lavelle | Ronald | 15 Chichester Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim | Royal Navy Surgeon-Lieutenant | Newtownards Hospital | |
| Lavelle | Audrey | 15 Chichester Avenue, Belfast, Co. Antrim | Sister of Ronald Lavelle | Newtownards Hospital | |
| Wallace | Frank | 3 Stewart's Place, Holywood, Co. Down | Taxi Driver | Stitches to injury. | Newtownards Hospital |
Dr. HF Northey of Helen’s Bay, Co. Down, and Lieutenant Colonel Laird and Major Sutherland of the Royal Army Medical Corps tended the injured. Constable P Sheridan and Constable C Clarke then transported them to 2 local hospitals. Lieutenant Kaines succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Edward Osborne Kaines’ grave is in Glenalina Extension, Section D, Grave 6 of Belfast City Cemetery, Belfast. His headstone bears the inscription:
The aim, if reached or not, makes great the life.
Lieutenant Kaines’ funeral took place from Grosvenor Hall, Belfast. Reverend A Collins conducted the service with full naval honours. His father and wife attended along with several officers from HMS Caroline. In December 1942, Freda Kaines received a settlement of £1,752 from the Lavelle and Catchpole families. A hearing had taken place in front of Lord Chief Justice in the Ulster King’s Bench Division.