The Yates family lived at Middleton House, Warrington Road, Prescot. William (44) was a Threshing Machine Proprietor and was married to Margaret (48). Their children were Maud (14) and George (12)
George Yates’ Medal Index Card shows service with the Army Ordnance Corps before transferring to the Manchester Regiment
Private 67112 Thomas YATES
Unit/Regiment
Royal Army Medical Corps
Date of Death
01/07/1920
Age at Death
36
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Prescot Churchyard
NP 187
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
Death registered Q2/1920, Prescot, 8b, 590
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P308
Research ongoing
Thomas Yates Medal Index Card shows that he arrived in France on 9th November 1915, entitling his to the 1914-1915 Star in addition to his British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Thomas Yates’ grave in Prescot Churchyard. Since taking this picture, much of the undergrowth has been cut back.
Corporal 2842 John YATES
Corporal John Yates, in a photograph provided by his grandson, also John Yates
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
31/05/1915
Age at Death
35
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Menin Gate
Panel 37
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Enlisted
Resided
How Died
Theatre of War
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P309
Service Details
The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It would appear from the information available that John Yates was already a Territorial soldier at this time. As such, he would have attended annual camp for training, and on the outbreak of war the Territorials were called to the Colours immediately, mostly joining the Battalion within a week.
John Yates joined the battalion on 15th September 1914. He gave his age as 34 years and 6 months and recorded that he worked as an Engraver.
Once all troops were present, the battalion was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward. Arriving at Le Havre the same day.
Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in trench warfare. The system was for companies from a battalion to be attached to other battalions for spells in the line, before the sector was allocated to the battalion on its own. In addition to the trench duty, the battalion undertook its share of pioneer work and training in rapid fire.
On 15th March 1915, John Yates was appointed Lance-Corporal, an unpaid appointment.
The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22nd. On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British lines.
More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed. At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.
On the 8th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9th it returned to La Brique, leaving “C” Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13th, when it was moved back to the support lines.
On 10th May, John was promoted to the rank of Corporal.
It was more of the same throughout the next two weeks of May, then at 3 a.m. on the morning of the 24th, the Germans released the largest cloud of gas seen so far in the war across a wide stretch of the British lines, followed by a large assault force. Their followed almost a full day’s desperate fighting, often in very confusing situations, “B” and “C” companies occupied French Switch, a trench connecting the British and French troops, but they suffered from very heavy shelling of the trench, which inflicted considerable casualties.
The remainder of the day and all of the 24th was spent in reorganisation and consolidation, also re-establishing contact with the French. The battalion remained in the front line until 1st June, but no serious German attacks were launched after 25th May, although small scale actions continued. Both sides were now exhausted, having been in almost continuous contact for 33 days.
In this period, Sergeant Gordon (25th), Rifleman Pickavance (25th) and Corporal Yates (31st) were all reported as Killed in Action. The fortunes of war denied graves to these men and they are remembered on the Menin Gate.
The War Office wrote to the Army Records Office on 29th November 1915 stating that all personal possessions of Cpl Yates were to be returned to his widow, Mary Jane, at 29, Ward Street, Prescot. On 4th January 1916, his possessions were listed as “Wallet, Letters, Cards, Imperial Service Badge, 1 Fountain Pen, Disc, Photos”. It isn’t clear exactly when they were returned, but on 8th May 1016 Mary Jane wrote acknowledging receipt of the items.
Mary Jane's letter acknowledging receipt of John's possessions
On 6th December 1915, the War Office advised that John’s widow, Mary Jane, had been awarded a pension of fifteen shillings and six pence per week for herself and two children, this taking effect from 13th December 1915.
John’s memorial Scroll was issued in early 1920, and on 6th March that year Mary Jane wrote acknowledging receipt of the Scroll. She was informed that his plaque would follow soon after.
Prescot Reporter 14th September 1917
John Yates’ Medal Index Card, showing his progression from Private to Corporal.His date of arrival in France, qualifying him for the 1914-1915 Star, is listed as 13th February 1915, confirming that he arrived aboard the s.s. “King Edward”. He was also entitled to the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John Yates’ inscription on the Menin Gate
Private 4905 John YATES
Unit/Regiment
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment
Date of Death
03/09/1916
Age at Death
Burial/Memorial & Reference
Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension
II D 16
Census Details
Birth/Marriage/Death Registrations
SDGW – Where Born
Prescot, Lancs
Enlisted
St Helens, Lancs
Resided
How Died
Died of Wounds
Theatre of War
France & Flanders
Notes
Research Ref. No.
P310
Service Details
On 8th August 1916, the 1st/5th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment was ordered to capture the village of Guillemont, which had defied all previous attempts at capture and was a thorn in the side of the British forces. The attack commenced at 4.20 a.m. and initially all objectives were taken despite strong resistance. By the end of the day, the Railway Station and the front line trenches in front of the village were in allied hands. Orders were then received to be ready to continue the attack the following morning.
Zero hour was again at 4.20 a.m. and the initial assault was met with withering machine gun fire from the German defenders, resulting in the troops falling back to their starting points. This also resulted in the companies being heavily mixed up and it was noon before reorganisation was complete. After this, the battalion remained near Trones Wood until the 10th, clearing the dead of the previous two days of battle and consolidating the ground won at such a heavy cost. On the evening of the 10th, they were withdrawn to bivouac and then on the 12th returned to the line at Maltz Horn Farm.
On the 13th, “D” Company of the battalion worked in partnership with French units to clear German forces from an area known as Cochrane Alley, specifically to take an isolated German trench. Unfortunately, the French failed to take their objectives and the British attack came under withering German machine gun fire, which drove the men back.
Private Yates is recorded as dying on 3rd September of wounds received, and rests at Dernancourt. A Casualty Clearing Station was located nearby, and so it is likely that he received wounds in the latter action of this period, then succumbing to the wounds whilst at the Casualty Clearing Station.
The Battalion War Diary for the period shows that actions from 13th to 15th August incurred casualties. After this period, the battalion was out of the line.
August 13 4.35am
Attacked with 1 Coy 6th Kings Liverpool Regt and D Coy 5th South Lancs on isolated enemy trench. Attack driven back by machine gun fire. Attack failed owing to Officers and men not knowing ground and being unable to take advantage of same.
Continued relief of 7th Kings Liverpools and completed same at 1pm.
August 13 1pm to 14 midnight
Trenches greatly improved and consolidated and new jumping off trenches dug.
August 15
Relieved by 13th Kings Liverpool Regt and 4th Royal Fusiliers. Relief complete 5.30am. Returned to Bivouacs F22b.
August 15 3.40pm
Marched to billets at MEAULTE.
Casualties from 8pm on the 12th to 5.30am on the 15th 2 Officers, 80 other ranks.
Medal Index Card for Private Yates lists entitlement to the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He has no Star entitlement and no date of arrival into the theatre of war, which shows that he did not serve overseas before January 1916.
Private Yates’s grave at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension
