Three: Corporal A. Bates, Rifle Brigade

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4053. A/Cpl. A. Bates. 2/R. Bde:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 1 clasp, Defence of Ladysmith (4053 Cpl. A. Bates, Rifle Brigade); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4053. A/Cpl. A. Bates. 2/R. Bde:) contact marks, otherwise very fine (3) £600-£800

Albert James Bates attested for the Rifle Brigade and served with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa during the Boer War, being wounded at Colenso on 6 January 1900. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 1 April 1914 and served during the Great War on the Western Front as a Company Sergeant-Major with the 1st Battalion, Rifle Brigade from 23 August 1914, being slightly wounded, after three days, on 26 August 1914 (most likely at the battle of Le Cateau).

Bates’s Regimental conduct sheet states: ‘certified no entry of offences; discharged in Winchester on 5 February 1919, termination of his second period of engagement, aged 43 and 2 months, having served 23 years and 112 days. Military character exemplary.’