216592 Pte. Alexander Coates British Army 11th Batallion Durham Light Infantry from:Crook, Co Durham (d.10th Nov 1915) Alexander Coates (my great uncle) enlisted at Consett on 9th November 1914. A miner born in Crook, he was 5ft 6½in tall, weighed 129lbs, had a 37in chest, sallow complexion, blue eyes, brown hair and professed C of E. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Annie Coates of 4 Station Road, Lanchester. His soldier’s will, dated 11th August 1915, left all his personal effects to his mother. She had been awarded a separation allowance of 7s 1d plus an allotment of pay of 3s 6d.
Coates was assigned to 16 DLI for training with effect from 10th November 1914 and was eventually posted to 11 DLI on 4th August 1915, serving with A Company. He survived a little over three months, dying of wounds at 26 Field Ambulance on 10th November 1915.
The battalion were based in billets split between Épinette and La Flinque Farm, on the Laventie Front. Those at Épinette were hit by shellfire on 10 November 1915. Three men were killed instantly and seven wounded, Coates being one of two from the latter who died later. He is buried at Sailly-sur-la-Lys Canadian Cemetery.
Personal effects were sent to his mother on 17th February 1916. By the end of the war both his father and mother had died and the remaining effects and medals were sent to his younger brother, Joseph Coates, at 2 The Square, Lanchester. There was an older brother and three married sisters. The medals arrived during 1920 and 1921.
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