Name
Frank John Gates
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/07/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
371624
London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL
XXVII. R. 5.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Frank John Gates was born in 1891 in Weston Turville, Bucks to Frederick Gates, a grocer and hay& straw binder, and Emma (nee Casemore).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Frederick E (born 1885), Walter T (born 1889)and Frank J were living at grocer’s shop, Weston Turville, Aylesbury, Bucks.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Frederick E, Walter T, Frank J and Arthur (born 1894) had moved to12 Akeman Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census the family were living at 12, Akeman Street, Tring: Walter was a Baker, Frank was a Draper’s assistant. Arthur was hairdresser’s assistant and Herbert James (born 1896) was a grocer’s apprentice.
His mother and father later lived at 27, High Street, Tring.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frank, who enlisted in Jun 1915 as Rifleman (serial not known) in B Company, 1/8 (City of London) Battalion (Post Office Rifles). This Battalion, having landed in France in March 1915 became part of 140th Brigade in 47th (2nd London) Division. He became Lance Corporal 371624 in the Territorial Force renumbering in 1917 Frank joined hid Battalion in the Field in Jan 1918 and in the German Spring Offensive, 47th Division positioned at Delville Wood on the old Somme Battlefield received orders to retire with the rest of V Corps after German troops broke through the junction of V Corps and VII Corps Frank was posted as Missing and was later a POW in Limburg, Germany. His death was reported as from his wounds on 26 Jul 1918. His remains were recovered and re-interred at Delville Wood.Cemetery.
From the Parish Magazine, 1919: “Frank John Gates, who has been missing for some time, is now reported to have died whilst a prisoner of war at Limburg in Germany on the 26th July 1918. His death it is said was due to the result of wounds received in action.
It was in June of 1915 that he joined the Army and was attached to the Post Office London Rifles. For sometime he was a gymnasium instructor in England, but went to France in January of last year. He was formerly a member of our Church Lads’ Brigade and favourite with those that knew him. May god accept the sacrifice which he has made. R.I.P.”
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £18 10 s and arrears of £29 2s 1d was paid to his father. Brother Walter served as Private G/2204 7th Battalion Buffs (East Kent Regiment) , died of wounds 12 Jul 1916. Brother Herbert served as Lance Corporal 266022 in 2/4 Battalion Ox & Bucks Light Infantry and was killed in action on 2 Nov 1918.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
