Name
George Gates
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/04/1917
43
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/20049
Royal Sussex Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY, ARRAS
VI. G. 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Knebworth Village Memorial
Pre War
George (junior) was born around 1880 in Knebworth and christened on 28 March 1880. His parents were George and Mary Ann Gates.
In 1881 the family were living at The Village, Knebworth. Present were both parents: George (25) and Mary Ann (30). George was working as a farm labourer, which he continued to do in one form or another in all the subsequent censuses. Their children were: Herbert Carpenter – listed as a son despite the surname (9), Henry (5), Elizabeth (2) and George at 1 month.
In 1891 the family were living at Deards End, Knebworth. Present were both parents. The children listed were those listed above, albeit Herbert is now listed with the surname Gates. They are joined by Walter (8), Emily (7), Rose (5) and Lilly Gates (3).
In 1901 the family were recorded at Deards End, 1st Farm Cottage, Knebworth Road, Knebworth, but this may well have been the same property as above. Both parents were present of the children listed above Herbert, Emily and Rose were absent. George (junior) working as a gardener.
In 1911 the family were still in Deards End Lane Cottages, Knebworth Station, Stevenage, Herts. Present were both parents, but now, of the children, only George (junior) working as a domestic gardener and Walter were present.
George married Martha Elizabeth King (b 12 August 1883 or 84) from the Parish of Diddington, Buckden, Huntingdonshire, in the Parish of Knebworth in 1913
Little is known of their married life, but at some point before George’s death, his wife was admitted to Severalls Asylum, Colchester, Essex(*1). The reason is not known; however she was found in 1939 Martha was found as a retired cook and housekeeper, living in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire. She died in 1953
Officially George was recorded as born in Knebworth, Herts. and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in Hertford into the Hertfordshire Regiment and received the Regimental Number 2738. Later he was posted to the l/6th Battalion of the Gloucesters, Territorial Force with the Number 39562. This Battalion was in the 144th Brigade being part of the 48th Division of XVIII Corps in the 5th Army. In November 1916, it was reported that he had been wounded.
The Battalion War Diary shows that on the 10th April 1917 they were in a location know as Guilford Trench, on the outskirts of Monchy-le-Preux. There is no indication of what happened to George Gates as the unit were in the process of returning to caves on the Cambrai Road. It is possible that he was the victim of shellfire.
‘Soldiers died’ database states that he ‘died’, which suggests that he had either suffered illness or an accident but a 1917 newspaper states that he was reported as missing. The day of his death was during the Battle of Poelcappelle when his Battalion was engaged in fierce fighting against shell, snipers, machine-guns and mud near Reutel Village in the Ypres Sector.
Although his original grave was at map reference G 28 b 4. 6. - located near the corner of Rue De Cambrai in Arras and his body was later re-interned in the Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, along with several others.
Additional Information
After his death £2 0s 1d was authorised to go to joint legacies George and Elizabeth, his widow/father/mother xx on 11 October 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to them on 12 December 1919.
His pension cards record Martha Elizabeth as his widow and next of kin. With her address “Inmate Severalls Asylum, Colchester, Essex. She was awarded a pension of 13s 9d a week from 19 November 1917. This was paid to Mr F R Long “ Collected to Saffron Walden Union for main tenants(?) of Mrs Gates wife’s sister Mrs Gibbons, Deards End Cottages, Knebworth Herts. another note states “Payable to Mr James ? Long. Collector of the guardians 21 Audley Rd, Saffron Walden (for widow)
*1 Severalls Asylum and it opened as the Second Essex County Asylum in May 1913
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
