WORKING NOTES

Known as Stanley

Born 22/3/1890, Swansea . Parents - Thomas (Contractor) & Mary. Bapt 23/7/1890. Add- Kilvey House

1898 - School Adm St Thomas's Council Sch f Boys. Add-45 Tyrgwl Terrace. DOB 22/3/90

1901 - Add- unlear, Kilvey. 11yo. W parents and 2 younger sibs.

1911 - 9 Westbury St, Swansea. 21yo. Occ-Boot shop Assistant. Alone in house.

1915 - Married Florrie Palmer 3/4/15, Swansea. 25yo. Occ-Clerk. Add-37 Glanmor Crescent. Father - Thomas (Haulier & Contractor) -decd

1916 - Died accidentally in Egypt - 22/8/16

His great-niece added: the story of how GS died has been handed down within our family. I am shocked that no person organising that group of soldiers to go on a swimming-trip had warned them all of the shallowness of the Suez Canal. GS may have had experience when a youngster of diving into canals in Swansea, which I think may have been deeper. Certainly a canal for passage of very big ships wd be expected to be deeper. It was such a waste of the life of a young man, intelligent (I imagine) from his beautiful hand-writing on the 1911 census.

Florrie never re-married. When G S died in Aug 1916, their daughter Florence Mary was 6 months old. I guess Mum Florrie dedicated her life to bringing up Molly, as her daughter was always known. My Dad's sister, born also in 1916 & known as Molly, told me M Bate was good at school studies all thru child-hood.

Enl 3/9/14. In Nov 14 pic of recruits

1st Glam Bty, France & Egypt

On the 22nd August 1916, 938, Dvr G. Stanley Bate lost his life in an accident. The Court of Enquiry sat on 23rd August at Serapeum, presided over by Major J.C. Rea of 266 Bde. 917, Sgt Gibbs gave evidence at the enquiry:

On the 22nd about 7.30am I was one of the bathing party that came down by train and proceeded to the Canal bank. I was undressing when I heard Dr Bates call out “Here’s a go” and I saw him dive into the water. One of my comrades called my attention to Dr Bates saying “Look at Bates”. I saw and immediately rushed into the water. Dr Casley joined me and together we brought Dr Bates to the bank. He did not speak for about two minutes and then said “I am finished” or words to that effect. At that time there was no sign of bleeding.

The water at the spot where Dr Bates dived was about two feet, six deep. The Court of Enquiry concluded that ‘Dr Bates was on duty & that the accident occurred through his own carelessness’. His service record states that he died of a Fractured and Dislocated Spine. Stanley Bates left his wife, Florrie – whom he married just over a year before – at home.