Gunner
Royal Garrison Artillery | 176436 | 524 Seige Battery |
All photos courtesy David Cooke
Biography
Known as Harry, he was born and raised at Canal Side, Crich Chase, his parents were Joseph and Eliza Bates. His father was a horse keeper at Ambergate wireworks and Harry also worked there throughout his working life. During WW1, he served as a gunner with the RGA. He marriedMary Needham in 1917 and had a daughter. The family lived for many years at Ridgeway, Ambergate, and Harry was latterly a foreman at the wireworks. His cousin, Richard Cyril Tatham, became a prisoner of war in Holland. During WW2, he served as a sergeant with a local corps of the Home Guard.
Medal Index Card
Awarded the Victory and British War medals.
Harry's medals
Newspaper Report
Ripley & Heanor News 16 April 1915
A PRISONER IN HOLLAND
Mr J. Bates of Canal-side, Bull Bridge, has received a letter from his nephew, Seaman R. C. Tatham, who is a prisoner in Holland, giving an interesting account of his experiences since he left the old country. He was in the defence of Antwerp, and was one of the 1500 men who in the retreat got onto Dutch soil, and there has had to remain a prisoner of war. He points out that Holland is in rather a perilous position at present and if things turned the wrong way they may find themselves in the trenches again. “The sooner the better," he concludes.
1901: Crich Wood
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph | Bates | Head | 35 | Horse driver | Anslow, Staffs |
Eliza | Bates | wife | 30 | Heage | |
Henry | Bates | son | 9 | Crich | |
George W | Bates | son | 6 | Crich | |
Ida Ellen | Bates | daughter | 4 | Crich | |
Harold | Bates | son | 2 | Crich |
RG13 piece 3231 folio 68 page 21
1911: Canal Side, Ambergate
Forename | Surname | Relationship | Age | Occupation | Where born |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joseph | Bates | Head | 45 | Horse keeper, wire mills | Anslow, Staffs |
Eliza | Bates | wife | 40 | Heage | |
Henry | Bates | son | 19 | Horse driver, wire mills | Ambergate |
George William | Bates | son | 16 | Boy wire drawing mill | Ambergate |
Ida Ellen | Bates | daughter | 14 | Ambergate | |
Harold | Bates | son | 12 | Ambergate | |
Edgar | Bates | son | 9 | Ambergate | |
John Ronald | Bates | son | 7 | Ambergate | |
Albert | Bates | son | 5 mo | Ambergate |
RG14PN20984 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED13 SN267
1918 Crich voters
Harry Bates, The Chase; absent on military service.
1939 Register: Ambergate
Harry Bates b.25 April 1891; Wire works night foreman
Mary E Bates b.13 June 1892
One closed record