Thomas “Tom” Coates (1892-1917)
Gunner in the Royal Garrison Artillery remembered on the Staindrop Memorial
Born on 15 January 1892 Thomas, also known as Tom, was the only son of William Henry and Eliza Jane Coates. He was christened in November of the same year in his birth place of Linthorpe in Yorkshire. His father, William Henry who was originally from Staindrop, married Eliza Jane in 1884. The couple had at least two children; William Henry and Mabel. Thomas’ mother died in 1900, leaving William to care for eight-year-old Thomas and his older sister, 14-year-old Mabel. William worked as a grocer’s assistant, an occupation Thomas later joined him in.
Thomas attested into the army on 2 December 1915 and was placed in the army reserve. He was posted as a gunner in the 135th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery on 24 May the following year. He joined the British Expeditionary Force in France on 19 August 1916. Thomas’ service records report him as wounded on 29 April 1917 although there is no further information about this injury.
Thomas was injured and died of his wounds on 28 October 1917 at the 36th Casualty Clearing Station in France. He is buried at Zuydcote Military Cemetery near Dunkirk. Thomas is remembered on several memorials at his father’s birth place of Staindrop and also on memorials in Stockton.
There is further information about Thomas on the Bowes Museum website: https://www.thebowesmuseumww1.org.uk/person/1196-coates-t/
Civil Parish: Staindrop
Birth date: 15-Jan-1892
Death date: 28-Oct-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 11 Linthorpe Road, Yorkshire (Baptism Register)
46 Suffolk Street, Stockton-on-Tees (1901, 1911 Census)
24 Grey’s Road, Stockton (Service Records)
Religion: Church of England
Employment: Grocer’s assistant (1911 Census)
Grocer (Service Records)
Family: Parents: William Henry Coates, Eliza Jane Coates nee Rowland
Siblings: Mabel Coates
Military service:
Royal Garrison Artillery, 135th Siege Battalion
Gunner
Service Number 73052
Medal(s): British War Medal
Victory Medal
Memorial(s): Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St Thomas’ Church, Stockton
Plaque1914-18 Grange Estate Institute, Stockton
Plaque 1914-18, St Mary’s Church, Staindrop
Book of Remembrance 1914-18, St Mary’s Church, Staindrop
Gender: Male
Contributed by StaindropWW1, Staindrop | Fiona Johnson
