Pte 17033 John Yates

• Age: 26
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 20th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Dickebusch New Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: III.D.9

John Yates was born on the 13th February 1891 in Liverpool, the son of William Yates and his wife Annie (née Griffiths) who were married on the 17th July 1884 at St Anne’s Church, Richmond (at the corner of St. Anne Street and Great Richmond Street). William was a 25 year old police officer of 3 Hatton Garden, his father, John, was a licensed victualler, whilst Annie was aged 22 of 9 Union Terrace, her father, Joseph, was a marble mason. John was baptised 26th February 1891 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. His older siblings were Eliza Ann, born in 1885, Lily 1886, and William 1888, and younger sisters Nellie 1894, and Flossie Gladys, born in 1897.   

At the time of John's birth the family lived in Rupert Grove, Everton which is where they are found, at No. 20, on the 1891 census. John is just 6 weeks old, living with his parents and three siblings; Eliza A. aged 5, Lily aged 4 and Wiliam aged 2. His father is aged 33, a police officer, born in Shrewsbury,his mother, Annie, is aged 30, born in Liverpool. 

In 1901 they are living at 22 Northcote Street, Everton, with six children. His father is a 41 year old police officer, whilst his mother is 37 years of age. John is 8 and has five siblings who are listed as; Annie aged 15, Lily aged 14, William is 11, Nellie is 6 and Gladys is 3. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 19 Landseer Road, Everton, Liverpool. His father, William, is aged 52, born in Shrewsbury in 1859 and is a Police pensioner, whilst his mother, Ann, is aged 48, born in Liverpool in 1863 and has no occupation listed. They have been married for 27 years and have had six children of which one had sadly died. Those listed in  the household are; Lily aged 24, born 1887 and her occupation is a tobacconist weigher, William aged 22 born 1889 is an upholsterer, John aged 20, born 1891 is a sample porter in the Cotton Exchange, Nellie aged 16, born 1895 is a stationers envelope gummer and Gladys aged 13, born 1898 is at school. The children were all born in Liverpool.

His sister Eliza Annie died the following year at the age of 27.

John enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on the 01st September 1914 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 17033. He gave his age as 20 years 192 days, and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six inches tall, weighed 114lbs, chest 35", complexion brown, eyes hazel, hair brown and gave his religion as Church of England. His record is noted that prior to WW1 he had served with 1st West Lancs RFA (now expired).

From the 23^rd September 1914 he was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on the 07^th November 1915.

He was entitled to Class II proficiency pay on 16th February 1915.

He was attached to the transport section (Mule driver) and was awarded a Good Conduct Badge and entitled to Class I proficiency pay on 01st September 1916.

The Battalion diary records that they were:

In huts, training and supplying cable trench working parties:   

On 20^th June 1917 Private John Yates was recorded in the Battalion diary as killed in action, aged 26, serving in No. 4 Company. 

An indication into how John was killed comes in a report on the death of a fellow Pal in the 18th Battalion on the same day:

St Helens Examiner 07th July 1917

PRIVATE S. PARKER

Killed Whilst Out On A Working Party

Private Samuel Parker of the King's Liverpool Regiment was killed in action on the 20th of June. His wife who lives at 18 Gandy Street, Warrington received the first intimation in a letter from the Chaplain of the Battalion last week, in which he explained that Private Parker was out with a working party when a shell burst and killed him instantly. 

John now rests at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium.

The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 (in succession to the Old Military Cemetery near the Church), and was used until May 1917 by neighbouring fighting units and field ambulances. The 31st (Alberta) Canadian Infantry Battalion erected a memorial in it to 22 of their numbers who fell in April 1916. A few further burials took place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.

The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified. The Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified. The two cemeteries are treated, so far as possible, as one. The Cross is placed in the Extension, opposite the entrance, and the War Stone by the roadside in the New Military Cemetery.

The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He earned his three medals which his mother Annie signed for.

He is also commemorated on the Cotton Association War Memorial.

His mother received John's Army effects of over £22 and a War Gratuity of £13. She wrote and complained on 08th June 1919 about her 5/- pension as her husband was entering hospital for an operation.  

In 1919 his father provided information on living relatives:  brother William, 28, and sisters Lily, 30, Nellie, 23, and Flossie, 21, were living with their parents at 19 Landseer Road.

It is not known when his mother died.
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