Pte
Alfred Bate
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1886 |
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Place of birth: Quarry Bank, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 122 Common Side, Pensnett, Dudley, England, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Ironworker |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 37044 |
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Enlistment place: Brierley Hill, Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Gloucestershire Regiment, 8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Belgian Wood, Zandvoorde, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 31 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 73 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of work | ||
| #4 | Enlistment place | ||
| #5 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alfred Bate, a former iron worker, was born in 1886 at Quarry Bank, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of William and Lucy Rushton. He married Mary Ann Lewis in 1907 and had two children by 1911. Before the war, the Bate family lived at 122 Common Side, Pensnett, Dudley, England. Alfred worked at the Old Level Ironworks (Earl of Dudley's Round Oak Iron & Steel Works Ltd.) near Brierley Hill. He was a member of the South Staffordshire Territorials and enlisted at Brierley Hill on 6 October 1914. By 1917 he served as a private in the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, part of the 57th Brigade, of the 19th (Western) Division.
Three days before his death, he wrote al letter to his brother and sister. In the letter he stated that “[he is] allwright [sic] at the time of wrighting [sic] to you but do not know how long for because we shall [be] in some where very hot for I expect you will read about it in the papers very soon.”
On the 20 September 1917, the 19th (Western) Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge. The division attacked with the 57th Brigade on the left and the 58th Brigade on the right. Their objectives were located northeast of Hollebeke, on the eastern bank of the Ypres-Comines Canal. At 5:40 a.m. the 19th (Western) Division commenced their attack. The 57th Brigade attacked with the 10th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment and the 8th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment. The 10th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment was in reserve. Although opposition was strong at Top House, Belgian Wood and Wood Farm, all objectives were taken. In the evening a counterattack was repulsed.
Alfred Bate, aged 31, was killed in action on 20 September 1917. His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Private Bate is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 73.
Three days before his death, he wrote al letter to his brother and sister. In the letter he stated that “[he is] allwright [sic] at the time of wrighting [sic] to you but do not know how long for because we shall [be] in some where very hot for I expect you will read about it in the papers very soon.”
On the 20 September 1917, the 19th (Western) Division took part in the Battle of Menin Road Ridge. The division attacked with the 57th Brigade on the left and the 58th Brigade on the right. Their objectives were located northeast of Hollebeke, on the eastern bank of the Ypres-Comines Canal. At 5:40 a.m. the 19th (Western) Division commenced their attack. The 57th Brigade attacked with the 10th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment, the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment and the 8th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment. The 10th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment was in reserve. Although opposition was strong at Top House, Belgian Wood and Wood Farm, all objectives were taken. In the evening a counterattack was repulsed.
Alfred Bate, aged 31, was killed in action on 20 September 1917. His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Private Bate is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, panel 73.
Sources 4
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8 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/2085/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Letter from Alfred Bate to his brother and sister, dated September 17, 1917 Sources used |
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Pte. Alfred Bate, Pensnett. Gave his life for his country. Dudley Chronicle, 27.10.1917 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/ Sources used |
More information 2
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/844270 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=a108d787-850b-4ba7-9773-0f6567736b57 |