Name
Frank Manfield Bates
28 Dec 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/09/1916
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
26994
Somerset Light Infantry
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE
IV. E. 29.
France
Headstone Inscription
IN LOVING MEMORY OF A DEAR SON AND BROTHER TILL WE MEET
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Frank Manfield Bates was born in Aston Clinton, Bucks on 28 Dec 1894 (baptised in Tring on Mar 1895) to Manfield Bates, a groom, and Mary Louisa (nee Bunce)
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Albert (born 1886, tailor’s apprentice), Annie (born 1889), Ethel (born 1890), Frank and Edith (born1899) were living at 8 Landon Street Tring
On the 1911 Census the family of parents. , Frank and Edith were living at 11, Henry Street,, Tring. Frank was a grocer’s assistant and his father was a carman.
Wartime Service
No Service Record was found for Frank who enlisted as a Territorial Soldier at Hertford. He is listed as Private 3059 Herefordshire Regiment on some records and would have joined about that unit around Dec 1914 but other Records (Medal Index Card) states Hertfordshire Regiment with the same service number but he would have enlisted about a month earlier (Nov 1914) which would be more logical.
At some time he was transferred to Prince Albert’s Somerset Light Infantry as Private 26694 in the 6th (Service) Battalion. This Battalion was part of 43 Brigade, 14 (Light) Division and Frank was likely serving with them wahen they were engaged in the Battles of thr Somme at Delville Wood during July 1916 and Flers- Courcelette (15-22 Sep.). Duting this last action that Frank was wounded by shrapnel and died at 36 Casualty Clearing Station om 20 Sep 1916.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of $8 10s and arrears of £5 2s 6d was paid to his mother.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
