Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Second Lieutenant P. Coates, Royal Engineers, who was killed in action in Tunnel Warfare on 15 April 1916

1914-15 Star (2.Lieut. P. Coates. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (2.Lieut. P. Coates.) BWM lacking retaining rod, otherwise very fine (3) £240-£280

Percy Coates was born on 11 January 1885 and was employed pre-War on the staff of the Resident Engineer of both the Sheffield and Leeds sewage-disposal works. Following the outbreak of the Great War he attested for the Honourable Artillery Company and served with them at home before being commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 29 October 1915. He served with 180 Company during the Great War on the Western Front from 19 November 1915, and was killed in action on 15 April 1916 whilst on tunnelling duty - the Company War Diary states:
‘The Germans sprung a mine at the Hairpin, and about 40 foot of one Gallery which was being packed out was caved in and there were considerable falls of chalk in another Gallery. In this latter Gallery Lieutenant P. Coates R.E. of the Company and an N.C.O. were killed.’

Coates is buried at Vermelles British Cemetery, France.

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