In Memory of

Private Harold Yates

12908
7th Bn. Prince of Wales’ Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment)
Killed In Action 22nd July 1916 Age 31

Private Harold Yates was born in Darwen, near Blackburn, although at the time of his death he was a resident of Earlestown, his home address being 23, Chandos Street. His father, Willie, died in early 1916, and his mother then moved to 140, Salter Street, Latchford, Warrington. He worked at the Viaduct Works, and was connected with St. Philip's, Newton Common, both as a chorister and as registrar of the Men's Bible Class.

Private Yates enlisted through the Earlestown Office soon after the war broke out, and was billeted with Private Rabjohns, his friend and a fellow member of the Bible Class, through his training. He was with Private Rabjohns when he was killed, rendering him assistance in his dying moments. He was in the military police for some time.

The 7th Battalion landed at Boulogne on the 18th July 1915. Private Yates became skilled as a bomber, and was engaged in very hazardous work for a long time, but was fortunate in escaping injury. He wrote frequently to his friends in a cheerful spirit, despite the fact that he had no furlough during his time in France. It was the fact that letters to him were being returned with the endorsement "missing" that prompted Mr T. E. Clough, the Hon. Secretary of St. Philip's Men's Bible Class, to write to Lt. Anderson, who instituted enquiries. In his letter back to Mr. Clough, he says that: "It seems almost certain that the poor fellow was killed going over the top in one of the attacks on the Somme on July 22 or 23. Some months ago I got to know Yates, and can tell you from personal knowledge that he was a very good soldier, and very conscientious in his duty."

The Official History of the Great War gives an account of the attack mentioned by Lt. Anderson. The 7th South Lancashire Regiment was part of the 56th Brigade, of the 19th Division, of the III Corps, of the Fourth Army.

"The attack of the III Corps had been delivered at 12.30 am [on the 23rd.] On the 19th Division front heavy shell fire greatly hampered the despatch of orders to battalions and the movement of the troops to their assembly points….. The 8/Gloucestershire was checked by machine-gun fire from the front and from High Wood; it lost heavily. The 7/South Lancashire and the 7/Loyal North Lancashire of the 56th Brigade could do no better although the former hung on for some hours in shell-holes outside the German trench. Between 3 and 4 a.m. therefore a general withdrawal was carried out, and the line reorganised under persistent shell-fire."

Private Yates is now buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, which is a village in Somme, approximately thirteen kilometres east of Albert and ten kilometres south of Bapaume. However, he was moved to this cemetery from one of the many smaller ones in the area after the Armistice. There are over five and a half thousand graves in the cemetery.

Lance-Corporal Charles Middleham was killed at about the same date and in the same area.