Richard Bertie Yates

Richard Bertie was the son of David and Linda Wright Yates (née Hewitt). His father David was born in Alfreton, Derbyshire and his mother Linda in Somercotes. They were married at Shirland St Leonard, Derbyshire, in 1887. According to the 1911 Census they had had 12 chldren of whom only 11 survived infancy. However, only ten have been traced on the census between 1891 and 1911: Edgar b. 1888 (reg. J/F/M), Richard Bertie b. 1890 bap. Clay Cross 26 April 1890, George b. 1893 (reg. J/F/M), Linda Adelaide b. 1898 (reg. J/F/M), Joseph Henry b. 1900 (reg. J/F/M), Maud b. 1902, Mary b. 1904, Frances b. 1906, Muriel b. Derbyshire 1908 and Joyce b. 1911. Apart from Edgar who was born in North Wingfield, the older children were born in Clay Cross, Derbyshire, Mary, Frances, and Joyce in Mansfield Woodhouse and Muriel in 'Derbyshire.' In 1890 when Richard was baptised the family home was on New Street, Clay Cross. However, by 1891 David, a coal miner, and Linda were living in Ashover, Derbyshire, with their son Richard (1). Their older son, Edgar, was living in Stirland, Derbyshire, with his grandparents, Henry Broom and his wife. David was recorded on the 1901 Census as a visitor in a household in Burton upon Trent, while his wife and their five children, Edgar, Richard, George, Linda and Joseph, were in Stretton, Chesterfield. By 1911 both David and Linda were living on Woodhouse Lane, Skegby, with nine of their children: Edgar and George both coal miner labourers, Linda 'at home', Joseph, Maud, Muriel, Frances, Muriel and Joyce. Richard has not yet been traced on the census. The later CWGC record gave Richard's parents' address as 59 Portland Street, Mansfield Woodhouse. However, in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled David and Linda were living in Forest Town, Mansfield Woodhouse, with their youngest daughter Joyce. Linda died in 1946 and David in 1957. His older brother Edgar may have attested in the Royal Welch Fusiliers (24949) at Mansfield on 22 March 1915. He was 27 years old, working as a coal miner and living in Stanton Hill, Mansfield, with his wife and son. However he was discharged on 9 April 1915 as 'unlikely to become an efficient soldier' citing general debility, myopia and other symptoms of poor health.

Residence Mansfield Woodhouse, enlisted Bakewell, Derbyshire

1/6th Bn Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) prev. 7669 (Notts & Derby Regiment). Formerly 3024 Derbyshire Yeomanry. Richard was wounded and taken prisoner in 1917. He died from sepsis (lower leg) on 27 September 1917 and is buried in Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, Belgium (grave. ref. I. F. 9). Richard qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - History of Tournai Communal Cemetery Allied Extension (extract): 'Tournai was captured by the German II Corps on 23 August 1914, in spite of resistance from a French Territorial Brigade, and the town remained in German hands until it was entered by the 47th (London) and 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions on 8 November 1918 ... During the occupation, the German sick and wounded were nursed in the "Asile", whilst the Commonwealth and Allied were cared for in the Hopital Notre-Dame. The (Southern) Communal Cemetery, in the Faubourg-St.Martin, was used and extended by the Germans, although the graves were later regrouped by nationality and some were brought in from other cemeteries in a wide area around Tourn [listed].' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Forever in our thoughts from Mum, Dad brothers and sisters' Prisoner of War records: ‘17 December 1917. Zentral-Nachweise-Buro. Englander 5.12.1917 Totenliste [Death List]: Yates Richard. Sold. Notts and Derbys Inf. Rgt. 6 Btl. B. Komp. - Erk.Mrk. 242466 verst. 27.9.17 im Gef.Laz.Museum zu Tournai. Infolge [as a result] Granat-verletts (Unterschenkel [lower leg], Sepsis). Aktz. 16617/W.' Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser, 16 May 1918: 'Pte Richard Bertie Yates, Sherwood Foresters, Wounded and taken prisoner, but has died of his wound.' Mansfield Reporter, 17 May 1918: ‘Mansfield Woodhouse. Memorial Service. An impressive memorial service conducted by the Vicar, Rev. ET Harcombe, was held at St Edmund’s Church on Sunday morning. The service was to the memory Lieut. Kenneth Leigh Turner, on of the late Mr FJ and Mrs Turner. He was in the Worcester Yeomanry, and fell in his first action on May 2nd in Palestine; also to Pte Harold Blackwell, of the 6th Bedford Regiment, who was killed in action in December last; to Pte Ernest Newton, Sherwood Foresters, killed in action; and to Richard Bertie Yates, 5th Sherwoods, who was wounded and taken prisoner but who afterwards succumbed to his injuries. A muffled peal was also rung to their memory.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Registers of Soldiers Effects: His father David was his legatee. The record gives Richard's date of death as '17 December 1917 presumed for official purposes' This appears to be related to the date on the Prisoner of War document (above). WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: names illegitimate child, K. McLaren of Pages Walk, Bermondsey.