PHOTO PAGE 102

Photo CBATE 2 Please contact Harvey and Eileen Bates at:- bateshe@senet.com.au This is a portrait of Harvey's Grandfather SERGEANT CHARLES BATES of THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Charles was a veteran of the Siege of Ladysmith during the Boer War. (Please see Photo CBATE 1 on Photo Page 101). Charles is pictured here in circa 1915, as a Sergeant of the 2/5^th Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment. A brief WW1 history of the 2/5^th Battalion is as follows (kindly supplied by Iain Kerr),

The 2/5th Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment (Territorial Force) was mobilised at Loughborough in Sep 1914. In Jan 1915 it was moved to the Luton area in the 2/1st Lincoln and Leicester Brigade of the 2/North Midland Division. In July 1915 it was moved to the St Albans area. In Aug 1915, the formation was retitled 177th Brigade in 59th Division (2/North Midland). In Apr 1916 the battalion moved to Ireland, returning in Jan 1917 to the Fovant, Wiltshire area. On 24 Feb 1917 the battalion landed in France. On 3 Feb 1918 it was disbanded in France. The 2/5th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment was reported to have been split up as follows: "30 Jan 1918 - 2 officers and 50 other ranks to 1st Battalion, 9 officers and 158 other ranks to 1/4th Battalion, 9 officers and 201 other ranks to 1/5th Battalion, 12 officers and 207 other ranks to 11th Battalion, 7 officers and 171 other ranks to the 2/4th Battalion."

Charles Bates was to survive the Great War, but his son Bertie Bates did not. Please see below.

Photo BBATE 1 Please contact Harvey and Eileen Bates at:- bateshe@senet.com.au This is a portrait of BERTIE BATES, son of Charles (see above). Bertie was born at Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, England on the 5^th of June 1898. He is pictured here (circa 1915) in the uniform of a Lance Corporal of THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. His cap badge is of the Territorial Force and WW1 "service" (volunteer) battalions of that Regiment. It can also be seen that Bertie is wearing the cloth badge of a qualified Signaller. It seems very possible that he volunteered to the Regiment whilst he was under age (18 years was the minimum age for recruits). It may be that his true age was discovered and also that he was then discharged.

This young man was to end his army career as a Lance Corporal of THE 5TH (CITY OF LONDON) BATTALION THE LONDON REGIMENT (LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE).

Lance Corporal 305512 Bertie Bates was killed in action on the 23^rd of March 1918 at Poziers, France. He has no known Grave.

Please see below.

 

 

 

Photo BBATE 2 LANCE CORPORAL BERTIE BATES (1898 - 1918) He is pictured here in the uniform of THE 5TH (CITY OF LONDON) BATTALION THE LONDON REGIMENT (LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE).

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