The Wartime Memories Project - The Second World War

Those who Served - Surnames beginning with B.

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World War 2 Two II WW2 WWII 1939 1945

Tpr. G Bates .     British Army   from 8 Elm Street, Ellesmere Port,Chester, England

Trooper G Bates 321325 Prisoner of war 5494 Stalag XXB110




Gunner G. Bates .     British Army Royal Artillery

My father, Gunner G. Bates, Royal Artillery, was a POW in one of the numerous work camps attached to Stalag XXB. I know they used to call the head German `Robin Hood' and it was on a farm, but much of their work was of a forestry nature. I would like to know the whereabouts of the farm and any information anyone may have on it.




Gnr. George Charles Bates .     British Army 2nd Search Light Regiment Royal Artillery   from London

My father George Bates was captured near Frevent on 20th May 1940 as the German spearhead advanced towards the coast. He arrived at Stalag XXB via XXIA, XXIB and XXIC on 14th June 1941. Dad spent much of his time working on a farm at Workcamp 299 (later re-numbered Workcamp 34) at Wesseln, which I understand is now known as Lelkowo. I have a photo of dad with his fellow prisoners on the farm and another of the farm itself which was taken by a local Polish man.

Dad took part in the long march in the winter of 1945 and was eventually liberated by the Americans and flown home to England from Reims to Ford Aerodrome by Lancaster flown by a mixed English and Canadian aircrew on 10th May 1945. There is a photo of the Lancaster given to my dad by the crew and signed on the back. If anyone recognises any of the men in the photo and would like a copy or has any information about the farm please let me know.




Gunner George Bates .     British Army 2nd Searchlight Royal Artillery   from West Ham

My father, Gunner G C Bates, was captured near Frevent on 20th May 1940 as the German spearhead advanced towards the coast. He arrived at Stalag XXB via XXIA, XXIB AND XXIC on 14 June 1941.

Dad spent much of his time working on a farm at Workcamp 299/34(Old No/New No)at Wesseln, which I understand is in two possible locations, one near Elbing and the other near what is now Lelkowo. I have a photo of dad with his fellow prisoners on the farm and another of the farm itself which was taken by a local Polish man.

Dad took part in the Long March in the winter of 1945 and was eventually liberated by the Americans and flown home to England from Reims to Ford Aerodrome by Lancaster flown by a mixed English/Canadian aircrew on 10th May 1945. There is a photo of the Lancaster given to my dad by the crew and signed on the back. If anyone recognises any of the men in the photo and would like a copy or has any information about the farm please feel free to email me.




Sgt George Arther Bates .     Royal Air Force Photographic Section




Harry Bates .     British Army Parachute Brigade

Stalag 8b




Sgt. James Delameter Bates .     United States Army 143rd Infantry Regiment   from Caldwell, Texas

Sgt James Bates left North Africa in early September 1943 and landed on the beaches at Salerno, Italy on the morning of 9th September. Over the next few days they fought their way inland. On 11th September the 143rd was ordered to an area between the Sele and Calore Rivers and encountered heavy resistance. On the night of the 12th German tanks surrounded the area and on the morning of the 13th began pounding the 143rd.

Dad's company was pinned down in a trench. The machine gunners on the German tanks shot into the dirt piled in front of the trench, knocking the dirt in on them and slowly burying them alive. There was nothing they could do but surrender. Dad removed the bolt from his machine gun and threw it away so the Germans could not use it, and as the Germans rounded up the prisoners, dad slipped into the communications tent and disabled the decoder.

After several days travel, Dad arrived at Stalag IIIB in Furstenberg, Germany where he spent the remainder of the war. His recollection of his time there was limited, but he remembered always being hungry and miserably cold in the winter. The usual meal was a small piece of bread and rutabaga soup, which consisted of mostly water with a few rutabagas thrown in for flavor. Dad recalled one on the men receiving a package from home which contained a set of sheets. The men boiled the sheets and drank the water off them for the starch. In one letter to my mother he says that they had an unusually good soup on Sunday with some meat in it because one of the horses had died.

Cigarettes were a big commodity and could be used to bribe guards for various items. Dad once told me that he bribed a guard to let him out to go to a nearby town. Once there, he bought a full suit of clothes from a tailor for a few cigarettes. He didn't try to escape because he was so far inside Germany he didn't believe he would make it out.

Sgt. James Bates survived the POW camp and came home. He passed away at age 76 in 1987.




L/Cpl. Leonard Dunkirk Bates .     British Army Royal East Kent Regiment




L/Cpl. Leslie Bates .     British Army 128 Bridge Coy. Royal Army Service Corps   from Cambridge

Leslie Bates served as a driver in bridge companies from 1942 in UK and then from July 1944 through to the end of the war, via France, Holland, Germany and Italy.




Madeline Elsie Bates .     Women's Land Army

My Grandma, Madeline Dry (Maiden Name Bates) served in the Women's Land Army during the Second World War. She unfortunately died when I was only 11 and I would love to know if anyone has any stories? I do know that she was billetted to 77 Alexandra Road in Reading Berkshire and that her number was WLA37074. I also know that she broke in horses for Lord Vesty ( we have a picture of her on a hunter)! Any help would be greatly appreciated.




Richard Bates .     Royal Air Force 460 Sqd.

Dick Bates flew as a rear gunner with 460 Sqd.




Cpl. Sidney Bates VC..     British Army 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment   from Camberwell London

(d.8th July 1944)




Cpl. Sidney Bates VC..     British Army 1st Btn. Royal Norfolk Regiment   from Camberwell, London

(d.8th August 1944)




Pte. Sydney Geofrey Bates .     British Army Royal Artillery   from Warton, Warwickshire

My Father Jeff Bates was on the east coast of England barracked in Bamburgh Castle assigned to the search lights along the coastal area in the Second World War. After the war he was on a boat ready to go to India but after a short time he was disembark and demobed and returned to Warwickshire. His rank was Private




Fireman. William Bates .     National Fire Service




Pte. William Bates .     British Army 1st Btn. Durham Light Infantry   from Hartlepool

William Bates served with 1st Battalion, Durham Light Infantry.




L S Bates. .     428 Sqd.




A Bateson .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

A Bateson served with the Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Denis George Thomas Batey .     British Army Royal Armoured Corps

My grandfather Denis Batey who is still alive after serving in the Second World War, and being held in Stalag 4F at Hartmanzdorf, but he doesn't like to talk about it. I was wondering if anyone knew him. Any information would be greatly appreciated thanks.




Able Seaman Frederick Percy Bath .     Royal Navy HMS Forfar (d.2nd Dec 1940)




Able Sea. Frederick George Bath .     Royal Navy HMS Cossack

My late father, Frederick George Bath served on HMS Cossack as a gunner, when it was torpedoed on 24th October 1941. My father survived the war and died at the age of 89. He spoke fondly of HMS Cossack and the shipmates he lost.




Sea. Jack Bath .     Royal Navy




Raymond Charles Bath .     Navy HMS Royal Arthur HMS Lockleven

I am looking for information on my grandfather and the people he spent his time with during his training. His name is Raymond Charles Bath. He was at HMS Royal Arthur from 4th July 1940 until sometime in January 1941. His first ship was HMS Lockleven. This ship was apparently based in Grimsby and was attacked in Bridlington.

My Grandad was a Telegraphist and I think his class number whilst at HMS Royal Arthur was W28.




Pte. William Benjamin Morris Bath .     British Army 1st Btn. Kings Shropshire Light Infantry (d.26th May 1940)




Jack Bathie .     Auxiliary Fire Service (d.17th/18th Sep 1940)

Jack Bathie, died on 17/18th September 1940, whilst on duty, serving in the Aux Fire Service during the Blitz. The night he was killed he was in a 3 story building at 7-9 Rathbone Place, London. German raiders apparently pounded the city for 10 consecutive hours. He died with 8 other AFS. From what I can find on the internet, the building at 7-9 Rathbone Place was in the HQ 722, B District, South Division and was used for Mess and Sleeping Accommodation only.

He lived in Islington with his family and on the day of his funeral their house was bombed, leaving the family unable to say goodbye. His son's name is George and was evacuated to Cornwall shortly after this, he would dearly love to pay his respects to his father. I have searched a few cemetery listings around the Islington area, to no avail. I was informed that because he lived in Islington but died in Soho this might make his grave harder to locate.

I would appreciate any information or advice on how to find where Jack was laid to rest.




Alexander Peter Batscha .     US Army

Alexander Peter Batscha was held at Osaka Main Camp, Chikko Osaka 34 135 and was released on or about 09/13/1945. It's very possible that he was held at more than one camp.




Sgnlmn Edward Gordon Batt .     Royal Navy   from Salisbury

Served on HMS Cairo in WW2




Pte. Henry Albert Batt .     British Army 1st Btn. Dorsetshire Regiment   from Bristol

(d.12th Jul 1944)

Henry Batt was my stepdad's uncle. We are in Normandy trying to find out more information. He was killed in action on 12th of July 1944. His grave doesn't show his age but we know he was 19. We are looking for a photograph.




RA Batt .     British Army

RA Batt served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch.

Update: Unfortunately The Wartime Memories Project has lost touch with Dan, his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.




Dvr. Dennis H. Batten .     British Army   from UK

POW Camp Fukuoka 17 in Japan





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