William Henry Bates

William Henry Bates was born in 1899 in Nottingham and the son of William Henry a lace maker and Annie Bates née Hancock of 24 Wainwright Street Nottingham. His father William Henry was born in 1878 at Stanley, Derbyshire and his mother Annie Hancock was born in 1875 in Nottingham, they were married in 1898 in Nottingham and went on to have 3 children , William Henry b1899, Albert Edward b1902 and Edith Annie b1906, all 3 were born in Nottingham. In the 1911 census the family are living at 5 Fisher Street, Hyson Green, Nottingham, and are shown as William Henry 33 yrs a lace maker, he is living with his wife Annie 36 yrs and their children William Henry 12 yrs, Albert Edward 8 yrs and Edith Annie 5 yrs.

He was employed by the Midland Railway as an Electrical Cleaner, Chief Mechanical Engineering Department

Private William Henry Bates, enlisted at Nottingham and served with the 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, he was killed in action on 28th October 1917. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, (grave ref XLlV.D.26)

In memoriam published 28th October 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “BATES. – In loving memory of Pte. W. H. Bates, Norfolk Regt., killed in action October 28th, aged 19 years. Too dearly loved to be forgotten by his sorrowing mother, father, brother, sisters, and grandma.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918