F Bates

[wmfinch]

Hello All, this is a really really long shot but on behalf of a research group that I belong to (who will create a lasting memorial), please can anyone help?  All we know is that F Bates was a ‘Packer’ in the Great Western Railways Engineering Dept at Honeybourne.  The photo which was found on the ‘Fallen Railwaymen’ website gives no indication of which unit he was in, which doesn’t help.  Indeed, it is all we have to go on!

Any assistance will be much appreciated.

V/R

Wayne

[Neil 2242]

Probably this man?

 

[kenf48]

Also listed in the Trade Union Registers on FMP

F.W. Bates (Frederick William)

Packer

born 1892 admitted to National Union of Railway men 1915

Son of Charles and Eliza,  Cow Honeybourne (1901 Census) listed as Fred in 1911 (a farm labourer)

Four digit TF number 4809/renumbered as above

I suspect he was a Derby Scheme recruit, or conscript called up for service in his Group (born 1892 - Group 6) in Late February/March 1916 no doubt @ss002d6252  will be able to give a  more exact date.  Originally posted to the 3/8th Worcestershire Regiment, probably in a reinforcement draft to the 1/8th 30th July 1916 as both numbers are shown on the medal roll he was in France before March 1917, but after 31.12.1916.  The war diary shows a draft of 50 other ranks arriving on the 7th August 1916; they include 4821/241635 Hartland.  Without a service record, or other corroborative evidence we can't know for certain he was in that draft.  241637 (enlisted 11 March) went out  in a draft on the 10th July  and was originally attached to the 1/7th so ball park July 1916 after the initial Somme battles seems a good bet.

Pte Bates was killed in action during the attack on Gillemont Farm, there is a detailed account of the action on this earlier thread linked below, as well as in the 1/8 War Diary free if you register at TNA WO95/2759/2 or on Ancestry here

You should also download the Brigade war diary.

The Battalion reported 15 dead and 63 Missing after the action. As Fred is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial he has no known grave.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/770210/frederick-bates/

[wmfinch]

13 hours ago, BarbaraG said:

Thank you David for clarifying details of Harry’s Military Service. I have been unable to locate where he may be buried having enquired I found the Churchyard at St Ecgwin was closed in 1912.

Found an item from The Oxfordshire Weekly News 16 April 1919 (Find my Past) which his wife had posted.

Slightly different search found details for the Funeral and that there is a Honeybourne Cemetery.

’Military Funeral’

Evesham Standard & West Midland Obsever 29 April 1916 (Find my Past)

 

3 hours ago, Neil 2242 said:

Probably this man?

 

Neil, thank you so much !

[ss002d6252]

War Gratuity is £4 (net). This was £6 gross, for 14 months service. This indicates enlistment in the month from 25 Feb 1916 and ties in with Ken's suggestions above.

Craig

[wmfinch]

53 minutes ago, wmfinch said:

 

Neil, thank you so much !

Hello Everyone, this a collective ‘thank you’ for finding ‘our man’ from a crumb of evidence!  It always amazes me how kind folks are!