Rawmarsh & Parkgate - Panel 1
Ernest Bates - 1132004
Ernest Bates was the fourth child of coal miner Harry Bates and his wife Susannah (nee Priest). He was born in Rotherham in the second quarter of 1912 to the couple who lived at 71 Victoria Road, Rawmarsh. He was educated at Netherfield Lane Council School, and after leaving school was employed by Parkgate Iron & Steel Works Ltd. In late 1936 he was married in Rotherham to Edith Coucom and lived at 106 Victoria Road, although his wife died in 1942.
Ernest enlisted in the Army in 1941, service number 1132004, and was a Gunner with 61 Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery. He died in Italy on 17 December 1944, aged 32 and is buried in Ravenna War Cemetery. |
Bernard Brookes - 4545771
Bernard Brooks was born in Rotherham
on 10 August 1920, to Frederick Brookes and his wife of 10 years, Annie (nee
Brunt). Frederick who was a miner lived with his family at 104 Pottery St, Rawmarsh, until his
service in the first world war for just under 18 months. Later the family lived
at 10 West Avenue,
Rawmarsh. Bernard was educated at Netherfield
Lane Infant
School and at Ashwood
Road Junior
School, and after leaving
school he was employed at Aldwarke Pit.
He enlisted in the Army in October 1940, serving number 4545771, initially in the West Yorkshire Regiment. He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and became a Lance Serjeant with D Company of the 5th battalion. He served in Middle East for 18 months and then moved on to Italy, and recovered from wounds received in Tunisia and in Italy. It was reported that the day before his death he was recommended to his commanding officer for a promotion to Serjeant.
The 5th Seaforth Highlanders were part of the 51st Highland Infantry Division’s 152nd Infantry Brigade, which arrived in North Africa in June 1942. They experienced its first fighting at the Second Battle of El Alamein (October–November 1942). It then played a major part in Operation Lightfoot, where it was in the centre of the Northern Push, between the 9th Australian Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division. It faced the 21st Panzer Division and some Italian units. Initially unsuccessful during Lightfoot, the minefields it cleared were key in achieving a breakout during Operation Supercharge. It was involved in the battle at Wadi Akarit, Tunisia in early April 1943, and took part in the frontal assault on strong points guarded by deep minefields, where it was on the far right of the line. Later, the division took part in the invasion of Sicily followed by the invasion of Italy. The 51st was then recalled from the British Eighth Army in Italy, on the wishes of the Army's old commander, General Montgomery, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe. The 51st Division landed in Normandy on 7 June, as part of I Corps. After spending a brief period supporting 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, it was sent across the Orne River, and spent two months supporting the 7th Airborne Division in its bridgehead. During this period it fought many difficult actions at places such as Breville (11–12 June) and Colombelles (11 July). Its performance in Normandy was, overall, considered disappointing, particularly by General Montgomery, 21st Army Group Commander, who stated in a telegram to Field Marshal Brooke that the division "had failed every mission it was given".
On 1 August 1944 the division, along with the rest of I Corps, became part of the newly activated First Canadian Army. The division fought alongside this army in Operation Totalize, which commenced on 8 August 1944, this was the day that Bernard Brookes died. He was 23 years old when he died, 2 days before his 24th birthday, and is buried in Ranville War Cemetery.
Note
His aged is shown as 22 years old, but his birth was registered in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1920.
He enlisted in the Army in October 1940, serving number 4545771, initially in the West Yorkshire Regiment. He later transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders and became a Lance Serjeant with D Company of the 5th battalion. He served in Middle East for 18 months and then moved on to Italy, and recovered from wounds received in Tunisia and in Italy. It was reported that the day before his death he was recommended to his commanding officer for a promotion to Serjeant.
The 5th Seaforth Highlanders were part of the 51st Highland Infantry Division’s 152nd Infantry Brigade, which arrived in North Africa in June 1942. They experienced its first fighting at the Second Battle of El Alamein (October–November 1942). It then played a major part in Operation Lightfoot, where it was in the centre of the Northern Push, between the 9th Australian Division and the 2nd New Zealand Division. It faced the 21st Panzer Division and some Italian units. Initially unsuccessful during Lightfoot, the minefields it cleared were key in achieving a breakout during Operation Supercharge. It was involved in the battle at Wadi Akarit, Tunisia in early April 1943, and took part in the frontal assault on strong points guarded by deep minefields, where it was on the far right of the line. Later, the division took part in the invasion of Sicily followed by the invasion of Italy. The 51st was then recalled from the British Eighth Army in Italy, on the wishes of the Army's old commander, General Montgomery, to prepare for the invasion of North-West Europe. The 51st Division landed in Normandy on 7 June, as part of I Corps. After spending a brief period supporting 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, it was sent across the Orne River, and spent two months supporting the 7th Airborne Division in its bridgehead. During this period it fought many difficult actions at places such as Breville (11–12 June) and Colombelles (11 July). Its performance in Normandy was, overall, considered disappointing, particularly by General Montgomery, 21st Army Group Commander, who stated in a telegram to Field Marshal Brooke that the division "had failed every mission it was given".
On 1 August 1944 the division, along with the rest of I Corps, became part of the newly activated First Canadian Army. The division fought alongside this army in Operation Totalize, which commenced on 8 August 1944, this was the day that Bernard Brookes died. He was 23 years old when he died, 2 days before his 24th birthday, and is buried in Ranville War Cemetery.
Note
His aged is shown as 22 years old, but his birth was registered in Rotherham in the third quarter of 1920.