Orders, Decorations and Medals

1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. H. B. Coates, York. R.) nearly extremely fine £300-350

Harold Brearley Coates was born on 10 January 1896 and educated at Oundle School. He was commissioned from Oundle School O.T.C., receiving his commission on 26 December 1914, giving his address at the time as ‘‘Shirley’, Park Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire’ - his grand father’s address. Serving with the 7th (Service) Battalion Yorkshire Regiment, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 13 July 1915. He was killed in action in the attack upon the German positions at Fricourt, on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, aged 20 years. He was buried in the Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz. His name is further commemorated on the War memorial at St. Mark’s Church, Leeds Road, Harrogate and on the Harrogate War Memorial. Lieutenant Coates was the son of Henry and Julia Coates of 15 Sutherland Avenue, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The War Diary reports that the first ‘zero’ hour for the battalion was 7.30 a.m. on 1 July when troops to the left and right of the main force were to attack. Unfortunately the officer in command of ‘A’ Company got the timing wrong and attacked at 7.45. His company was met by intense machine-gun fire and almost wiped out. The second ‘zero’ hour was set for 2 p.m. with a battalion attack on Fricourt. A preliminary bombardment proved to be feeble and the battalion was halted halfway to the German positions by murderous machine-gun fire. Some 13 officers and 300 men became casualties in about three minutes. The survivors huddled in shell holes until dark. The total casualties reported for the day amounted to 5 officers killed and 10 wounded, with 336 other ranks killed and wounded. The village was taken on the evening of the 2nd July, without a shot being fired, the Germans having evacuated their positions.

With copied research including war diary extracts and a postcard photograph of the Harrogate War Memorial at its unveiling ceremony.