Fred Bates (1892–1949)

Private


Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
 1599 5th Battalion

Biography
Fred was born at Whatstandwell in 1893, his parents were Fred and Hannah Bates. They later moving to Ambergrove, then to Fritchley. At the start of the war the family were living at Hill Top View, Fritchley. He enlisted as a territorial with the 1/5th Foresters in 1912. He was transferred to the Reserve in Nov 1914 and discharged as medically unfit for war work a few weeks later. During the early war years, the Bates family relocated to Heckmondwike, Yorks. Fred remained in that area for the rest of his life, married in 1926 and had a son. He married Annie Bennett, (Dewsbury Registration District), June Qtr 1926. 'Annie' is the name given on the marriage registration, though her name is given as 'Sarah Ann' on electoral registers, and also on the GRO death index, and on her burial record. He later worked as a machine minder in a woollen mill. Fred passed away in 1949 and was buried in his parents' grave in Liversedge Cemetery (no gravestone).

Army Service Record
Frederick Bates enlisted, before the start of the War, on 29 April 1912 at Belper. He was a general labourer aged 19 years 4 months and lived in Crich Carr. His height was 5 ft 10½ and he stated he was C of E.
At the start of the War, on 21 November 1914, he transferred to the Reserve. His address was now High Tor View, Fritchley. Next-of-kin were father, Frederick, mother, Hannah, of Hill Top View, Fritchley.
Frederick was discharged as being medically unfit 7 December 1914. two weeks after his transfer to the reserves. His record stated: medically unfit for further military service 156 (ii). He was shown as serving at home 5 August 1914 to 7 December 1914.

Notes
Fred, and brothers Samuel and Harold are remembered in the Heckmondwike Memorial book. Frank is not mentioned here.

Photo courtesy Ray Cooper

Heckmondwike memorial book

Fred, Samuel and Harold Bates in the Heckmondwike Memorial Book

Fred's brothers Frank Bates, Samuel Bates and Harold Bates are also on the Roll of Honour

CENSUS INFORMATION

1901: Amber Grove, Crich

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Fred Bates Head 37 Wire trimmer Longway Bank
Hannah Bates wife 34   Wirksworth
Fred Bates son 8   Whatstandwell
Samuel Bates son 7   Whatstandwell
Elizabeth Bates daughter 5   Whatstandwell
Harold Bates son 3   Whatstandwell
Frank Bates son 2   Whatstandwell

RG13 piece 3231 folio 58 page 1

1911: Hill Top, Fritchley

Forename Surname Relationship Age Occupation Where born
Fred Bates Head 48 Wire trimmer Robin Hood
Hannah Bates wife 45   Wirksworth
Fred Bates son 18 Miner, hewer Whatstandwell
Samuel Bates son 17 Pony driver, underground Whatstandwell
Elizabeth Bates daughter 15 Factory, hosiery Whatstandwell
Harold Bates son 13 Pony driver, underground Whatstandwell
Frank Bates son 11 School Whatstandwell

RG14PN20983 RG78PN1251 RD436 SD4 ED12 SN160

Register of Electors: Polling District of Norristhorpe; Township of Liversedge
1918 (Division I): Shows Fred Bates (the Elder) and wife, Hannah – living on South Terrace.
1918 (Division II): Shows three of their sons: Fred Bates (the Younger); Samuel Bates; Harold Bates – living on South Terrace. Samuel and Harold are both absent on account of naval or military service. We know that Fred had been discharged very early on in the war, in December 1914.
1919 (Autumn) (Division II): Shows the same three brothers, but now also their younger brother, Frank Bates. Samuel and Harold are still absent on naval or military service.
1920 (Spring): All the family are now shown on the same page (the township is no longer split into 'divisions'), still living on South Terrace (though the parents are listed separately to the four children, for some reason). Note that Harold is still absent on naval or military service, though Samuel isn't. Frank, however, is now also listed as absent - he must have been a fairly late entrant to the war, given that he was born in September 1899.
1921 (Autumn): All the family are now listed together; none of the sons are now listed as absent voters.
1922 (Spring): All the family are listed together.

1939 Register:  Norristhorpe Lane, Spenborough
Bates, Sara A; b.29 March 1886; unpaid domestic duties
Bates, Fred; b.14 June 1886; machine minder woolllen mill
One closed record
[Fred's actual birth year was 1892 not 1886 as recorded]