Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War D.S.O. group of seven awarded to Brigadier-General F. S. Montague-Bates, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., East Surrey Regiment, late Lumsden’s Horse

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., suspension pin loose; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, South Africa 1901 (Cpl., Lumsden’s Horse); 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt., E. Surr. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig. Gen.); Legion of Honour, Officer’s breast badge, gold and enamels, some minor chips to blue enamel; French Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, with palm, court mounted as worn, edge knock to Q.S.A., otherwise generally good very fine (7) £1200-1400

See Colour Plate III

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 17 February 1915, 1 January, 25 September and 6 December 1916, 28 November 1917, and 30 January 1919.

Also awarded C.M.G. in 1918, C.B. in 1919, and Greek Order of the Redeemer, 3rd class.

Francis Stewart Montague Bates was born at Manaccan, Cornwall, on 8 February 1876, and educated at Appledurcombe College, Isle of Wight. He joined Lumsden’s Horse and served in the ranks of that regiment in the South African War for 165 days from February 1900, including actions at Karee Siding, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River, Zand River, and the actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the East Surrey Regiment in August 1900 and became Lieutenant in May 1902. (Queen’s Medal with 4 clasps). He was employed with the South African Constabulary 1902-06, and with the Canadian Forces 1910-12.

During the Great War he was Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment, December 1914 to March 1915, and Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwick Regiment, April to May 1915. He served in France from 8 November 1914 to 25 October 1915, latterly in command of the 2nd East Surreys until February 1916, and in command of the 12th Service Battalion, Cheshire Regiment until August 1916. During October and November 1915 he was serving in Egypt, and from December 1915 he was serving in the Balkans, on the Staff from September 1916 onwards, as Brigade Commander in Salonika until April 1919. He was appointed Brigade Commander in the Black Sea in April 1919, and served in Russia until October 1920. In that year he was appointed G.O.C. Troops at Ismid. He subsequently commanded the 141st (5th London) Infantry Brigade T.A. from 1928 until he retired in 1932. He served with the Home Guard, 1940-41, and died in Cornwall on 21 June 1954.