William Lawrence Yates

Thank you to Bruce Kettles for providing the service file

 

Jul 17, 1894

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

 

Feb 7, 1916

Attested into the 136th 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 39th Reserve Battalion for further training.  There was no requirement for additional Corporals in the 39th Reserve Battalion and he was reduced to the rank Private

 

Jan 4, 1917

The 39th Reserve Battalion was absorbed into the newly formed 6th 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 21st 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 21st Battalion

 

Jul 2, 1917

Left the CIBD to join the 2nd Entrenching Battalion

 

Jul 3, 1917

Joined the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in Hersin

 

Aug 21, 1917

Left the 2nd Entrenching Battalion and joined the 21st 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

 

Private Yates is honoured on the Port Hope War Memorial

 


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