Jul 17, 1894

Born in Welcome, Durham County, Ontario to Charles Rowland and Alvina Jane (nee Hearns) Yates

Feb 7, 1916

Attested into the 136^th Battalion in Port Hope, Ontario

Ø      Number 805317

Ø      Next of kin given as Rowland Yates, father, Perrytown, Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Farming

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Church of England

Mar 20, 1916

Admitted to the Port Hope Hospital with a diagnosis that reads La Grippe (influenza)

Mar 27, 1916

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 21, 1916

Appointed to the provisional rank of Corporal

Sep 25, 1916

Embarked the SS Corsican in Halifax, Nova Scotia

Oct 1, 1916

While onboard ship, he was appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

Oct 6, 1916

Disembarked in Liverpool, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp.  On arrival at West Sandling the battalion was absorbed into the 39^th Reserve Battalion for further training.  There was no requirement for additional Corporals in the 39^th Reserve Battalion and he was reduced to the rank Private

Jan 4, 1917

The 39^th Reserve Battalion was absorbed into the newly formed 6^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling.  The new reserve battalion was later moved to Seaford

Jan 5, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Lance Corporal

Mar 17, 1917

Appointed to the rank of Acting Corporal

Jun 7, 1917

Reverted to the rank of Private at his own request in order to proceed to France and a fighting battalion

Jun 15, 1917

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Jun 16, 1917

Arrived at the No 2 CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) Etaples, France as part of a draft of 40 reinforcements from England and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Jul 2, 1917

Left the CIBD to join the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion

Jul 3, 1917

Joined the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin

Aug 21, 1917

Left the 2^nd Entrenching Battalion and joined the 21^st Battalion in billets in Villers au Bois

Nov 4, 1917

One day after the battalion had moved into the front line at Passchendaele, Private William Yates received shrapnel wounds to his stomach.  He was removed to a field ambulance for first aid then transferred to the No. 44 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for further treatment where he died of his wounds.

Following the war the British War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to his father, Rowland Yates, Perrytown, Ontario

The Memorial Cross was sent to his mother, Mrs. Alvina Yates, at the same address.  Private Yates' family honoured him with a memorial in the Port Union Cemetery, Port Hope, Ontario