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Auction: 23113 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 431

'At 4 p.m. the Turks came on again. The 1/5th were driven out of their positions. A. [sic] Party led by 2nd Lt F. Whittam and C.S.M. Yates at once organised a bombing party, with which they retook about 80yds of the lost trench, but unfortunately a barricade intended to consolidate their success was put up in the wrong place and their effort was wasted. Whittam and Yates being killed.'

The Regimental History of the Lancashire Fusiliers refers

A well-documented campaign group of four awarded to Company Sergeant-Major J. H. Yates, 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, an early stalwart of the Bury Volunteers who was killed in action at the height of the Battle of Krithia Vineyard

1914-15 Star (72 C.Q.M. Sjt. J. H. Yates. Lan. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (72 A.W.O. Cl. 2. J. H. Yates. Lan. Fus.); Territorial Force Efficiency Medal, G.V.R. (72 C.Sjt: J. H. Yates. 5/Lanc:Fus.), good very fine (4)

James Hargreaves Yates was born at Bury, Lancashire in 9 February 1881, the son of John and Mary Yates. As a young man he worked as a Clerk in the offices of Wellington Mill, Elton, Bury. Joining the Bury Volunteers he was later posted to the 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion with whom he was mobilised on the outbreak of the Great War.

Noted as entering the war first in Egypt on 25 September 1914 his medal index card makes clear his entitlement to the 1914-15 Star; the Battalion arrived in Egypt in September 1914 and remained there until May the next year. Yates joined the Battalion at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula in early May 1915 and they were present as part of the build-up for the Second Battle of Krithia which began on 6 May.

Yates survived the fighting there but was soon back in the fray at the Battle of Krithia Vineyard in August. At the forefront of heavy fighting with his Company, on 7 August he was killed alongside 2nd Lieutenant Whittam, whilst leading a counter-attack. For his bravery he was commended by General Douglas, his Divisional Commander:

'Capt. Wood, 1/5th L.F., adjutant, who has been commanding officer whist Colonel Isherwood has been on leave, has written to Mrs. Yates, of 6a, Cateaton-street, Walmersley - road, Bury, stating that her husband, Co.-sergt.-major J. Hargreaves Yates, was killed on August 7th. He enclosed a letter from General Douglas conveying a message of congratulation to him for gallant actions performed on the same day as his death. Sergt.-major Yates had been in the auxiliary forces for about eighteen years, having joined the Bury Volunteers and continued serving in the Territorials, being the possessor of the long service medal. He was well known in Bury, being on the office staff of the Wellington Mill. He was connected with St. John's Social Club, Walmersley-road, having been treasurer, and was secretary of St. John's Cricket and Football Club for years.'

(The Guardian 4 September 1915 refers)

Yates is commemorated upon the Helles Memorial; sold together with an archive of original material including:

i)
Medal slip of issue.

ii)
Named box of issue.

iii)
Newspaper article from The Guardian.

iv)
Extract from the Regimental History referencing the circumstances of the recipient's death.

v)
Copied research including M.I.C. and medal rolls.

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Sold for
£380

Starting price
£110