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Mjr. Charles Allix Lavington Yate VC.
British Army 2nd Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
from:England
(d.20th Sep 1914)
Charles Yate served with the 2nd Battalion, Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and wounded at the Battle of Le Cateau, he was captured and later he died whilst escaping as a prisoner of war in Germany. He died age 42, on the 20th September 1914 and is buried in Grave II. G. 8 in the Berlin Southwestern Cemetery. He was the son of the Rev. George Edward Yate, Vicar of Madeley, Shropshire and Prebendary of Hereford; He was the husband of Florence Helena and had served in the South African War.
An extract from The London Gazette, No. 28985, dated 25th Nov., 1914, records the following:- Commanded one of the two Companies that remained to the end in the trenches at Le Cateau on 26th August and, when all other officers were killed or wounded and ammunition exhausted, led his nineteen survivors against the enemy in a charge in which he was severely wounded. He was picked up by the enemy and has subsequently died as a prisoner of war
Yate was 42 years old, and a major in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, during the First World War when the following deed took place during the battle of Le Cateau for which he was awarded the VC. On 26 August 1914 at Le Cateau, France, Major Yate commanded one of the two companies that remained to the end in the trenches, and when all other officers had been killed or wounded and ammunition exhausted, he led his 19 survivors against the enemy in a charge.
He was held at Targau POW Camp, after he was captured by the Germans. After repeated attempts, he escaped a month later on 19 September 1914, but was quickly apprehended by local factory workers who suspected his appearance, and cut his own throat to avoid recapture and possible execution as a spy. He died on 20 September 1914.
Four other VCs were won that day at Le Cateau, including one by Lance Corporal Frederick William Holmes, who wrote of Yate: Major Yate was a thorough gentleman and a great favourite with us all. He had had a lot of experience in the Far East and at home, and I am sure that if he had lived he would have become a general. He was always in front, and his constant cry was "Follow me!"
Yate is buried in grave II. G. 8. at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Berlin South-Western Cemetery in Stahnsdorf, near Potsdam, Germany. He is also listed on the parish war memorial, now on The Green, at Madeley.
