Ernest Yates was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire on the 04th January 1888, the son of Henry Yates and his wife Ellen (née Moss) who were married in 1879 at St James’ Church, Sutton, Macclesfield. They had six surviving children, all boys. Ernest had older brothers Thomas, Henry, and Fred, and younger brothers Robert and John. He was baptised with his sister Ellen on the 01st April 1889 at Sunderland Street Methodist Church, Macclesfield, parents address 5 Gosling Street. Sadly young Ellen died shortly afterwards.
Congleton, Macclesfield, and other towns in the region were famous for their silk-weaving, and many people in the area were employed in the silk industry.
In 1891 the family, with four children, is living at 7 Gosling Street, Macclesfield. His father, 31, works for the railway, his mother, 30, is a silk winder, Thomas, 10, is a schoolboy and silk piecer, Henry is 7, Fred 4, and Ernest 3. Also in the household are his widowed maternal grandmother Mary Ann Moss, 61, a silk winder, and lodger Eliza Ann Yates, 17, a silk piecer.
By 1901 they have moved to central Manchester, living at 1 Homer Street, just off St Andrews Square. His father is not listed in the household, his mother Ellen, aged 40, is head, Thomas aged 20, is a railway lorry driver, Henry aged 17, is a parcels van driver, Fred aged 14, is a railway lorry boy, Ernest aged 13, is a railway boy, Robert is aged 9 and John is aged 1.
Ernest married Ann Simpson on 26th December 1908 in St. Thomas' Church, Ardwick. Ernest 21, gives his occupation as carter, Ann gives her age as 20 (she added a year or two), they give their address as 46 Robert Street. Their first child, William Ernest, was born on 17th December 1909.
In 1911 Ernest, 23, and Ann, 20, are living at 17 Robert Street, Ardwick, with son William, age 1. Ernest is a carter for a railway company. Another child, a daughter Ann, was born on 31st December 1912.
Ernest enlisted in Manchester on the 05th September 1914, as Private 20506, joining the 12th Battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 26 years and 9 months. He was described as being 5’5 and a half inches tall, weighing 141 lbs, with a 38” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes, and light hair. He stated his religion as Wesleyan, and his wife Ann as his next of kin, at Tipping Street, Ardwick, later changed to 17 Robert Street, off New York Street. Ann was paid a separation allowance of £1-12s-6d until 11/5/1919.
His service record survives and shows -
8/9/1914 posted to 12th Bn
17/9/1914 appointed paid Lance Corporal
19/11/1914 appointed Acting Corporal
at Whitley Camp, Surrey -
16/3/1915 severely reprimanded for insubordination to a senior N.C.O.
at Rollestone Camp, Salisbury Plain -
16/4/1915 severely reprimanded for being absent from inspection parades
16/4/1915 reverted to Pte at own request
20/4/1915 forfeited 5 days’ pay and 10 days confined to barracks for being absent without leave from tattoo until 4:45 a.m.
Ernest embarked for France with his battalion, disembarking on 24th July 1915. His son John Frederick was born on 11th January 1916.
22/5/1916 to 62 Field Ambulance, cellulitis, face(?)
23/5/1916 appointed unpaid L/Cpl
25/5/1916 to duty
12/8/1916 appointed Acting L/Cpl
26/1/1917 to 87 Field Ambulance, P.U.O. (fever of unknown origin)
31/1/1917 transferred to U.K.
1/2/1917 Birmingham War Hospital, trench fever
29/3/1917 appendix removed
25/6/1917 discharged from hospital
6/7/1917 posted to Prescot Command
31/8/1917 posted 3rd Garrison Bn K.L.R., Cork, Ireland
20/11/1917 embarked for Mediterranean
27/11/1917 posted to 14th Bn K.L.R.
12/12/1917 disembarked Salonika
?/1/1918 arrived Base Depot as instructor
2/6/1918 rejoined
?/6/1918 embarked Itea, Greece
?/6/1918 disembarked Taranto, Italy
Aboncourt area, France -
24/6/1918 when on active service committed an act prejudice to good order and military discipline in that at Le Tel when told by 21146 C.S.M. Potter to take a cigarette out of his mouth he stepped out of the ranks and tore his Lance Corpl’s stripes from both arms
27/6/1918 in confinement awaiting trial
5/7/1918 Field General Court Martial
10/7/1918 awarded 14 days Field Punishment No.1
It is not known whether the punishment was carried out.
On 8th August 1918 the Hundred Days Offensive began, the Allied push that would eventually end the war. On 13th of August 1918 the 14th Bn were absorbed by the 18th Bn K.L.R., becoming the 18th (Lancashire Hussars Yeomanry) The King’s (Liverpool Regiment).
On 7th October 1918 the battalion, in a rapid advance, arrived at the Hindenburg line. Ernest was killed in action on 18th October 1918. He was buried close to where he fell, and his grave marked with a cross. In 1920 his body was found, identified by his name on the cross and his clothing, and reburied in Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, Nord, France, where he now rests.
After the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914), the town remained in German hands until the middle of October 1918. The original cemetery (Plot III) was made by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division after the fighting of 17 October; the name of Highland Cemetery is suggestive at once of the comparatively high ground on which it stands and of the 32 graves of the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion, Black Watch, found in this plot. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves of October and November 1918 were brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau. Highland Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.
His family learned of his fate about three weeks after he died, just as the war was ending. They placed notices in the Manchester Evening News on 11th November 1918 (Armistice Day):
“Killed in action October 18, 1918, Corporal Ernest Yates 20506, King’s Liverpool Regt., beloved husband of Annie Yates, aged 30 years. From his loving Wife and three little Children, also Father and Mother. - 17 Robert Street, Ardwick, Manchester.
I have lost him, I who loved him,
And like others must be brave,
For I know that he lies sleeping
In a British hero’s grave.”
“Killed in action on October 18, 1918, Corpl. Ernest Yates 20506, King’s Liverpool Regt., aged 30 years, from his sorrowing Uncle and Aunt also cousin Lizzie and Alice and Joe and Jack (serving). Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury, 10, Wesley Street, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester.
Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away,
In Jesu’s keeping we are safe and they.”
His death was also reported in the Manchester Evening News on Friday 15 November 1918;
Corpl. Ernest Yates, King's Liverpools, 17, Robert-street, Ardwick, killed October 18, worked for the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Co.
His children were 8, 5, and 2 years old when Ernest was killed. He earned his three medals, which Ann signed for, as well as his Memorial Scroll. His widow Ann, at 17 Robert Street, Ardwick, Manchester, received Ernest’s effects of £33-1s-6d and a pension of £1-9s-7d a week. A grant of £8 was paid; Ann was entitled to a War Gratuity of £24.
His family paid tribute to Ernest on the first anniversary of his death in the Manchester Evening News on Saturday 18 October 1919;
YATES - In loving memory of my dear husband, Corpl. ERNEST YATES, King's Liverpool Regt., killed in action, October 18, 1918, aged 31.
- From his sorrowing WIFE and 3 little CHILDREN, 17 Robert-street, Ardwick.
We have lost him -we who loved him-
And, like others, must be brave;
For we know that he is sleeping in a British soldier's grave.
YATES - In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Corpl. ERNEST YATES, King's Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action October 18, 1918, aged 31.
From his FATHER, MOTHER, brother ROBERT, and sister-in-law ANNIE. - 34, St. Andrew's-street, Ancoats.
A loving son, true and kind,
A beautiful memory left behind.
YATES - In loving memory of our dear nephew, Corpl. ERNEST YATES, King's Liverpool Regt., who was killed in action Oct. 18, 1918, aged 31. Also FRED YATES, brother of above, who died Feb. 15, 1918, aged 32, after much suffering.
From their loving UNCLE, AUNT, and cousins (Mr. and Mrs. Woodbury). 10, Wesley-st, Ancoats.
Some time we hope to meet them,
Sometime - we know not when;
To clasp their hand in the Better Land,
Never to part again.
His widow, Ann, born on the 06th May 1889 remarried to John Lee, but no marriage record has been found.
On the 1921 Census at 17 Robert Street, Ardwick, John Lee is aged 34, a labourer born in Salford, wife Ann Lee is aged 31, with her brothers John T. Simpson, 25 and Arthur Simpson 22. Ann’s three children are yet to be found.
Ann died, aged 75, in 1964, however she cannot be found on the 1939 Register.
Ernest is commemorated on the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway Memorial situated inside Manchester Victoria station.
We currently have no further information on Ernest Yates, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
