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Auction: 21003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 346

Four: Lance-Sergeant W. T. Oates, 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), who was killed in action on 30 November 1917 at Lateau Wood during the Battle of Cambrai, having already been wounded in 1915

1914-15 Star (G-4538 Pte. W. T. Oates. E. Kent R.); British War and Victory Medals (G-4538 Cpl. W. T. Oates. E. Kent R.); Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (William Thomas Oates), together with his Memorial Scroll in the name on 'L/Serjt. William Thomas Oates East Kent Regt.', nearly extremely fine (4)

William Thomas Oates was born in Hampstead and during the Great War served in France with the 2nd Battalion, The Buffs from 11 March 1915. That unit served at the Second Battle of Ypres, with Oates being wounded in action, it being reported for actions in April and May 1915 (South Eastern Gazette 2 November 1915, refers).

Oates thence joined 'A' Company, 6th Battalion, The Buffs. Oates would have seen action during 1917 at the First Battle of the Scarpe, the Battle of Arleux, the Third Battle of the Scarpe and the fateful Cambrai Operations. He was posted missing action and latterly killed in action on 30 November 1917.

Also killed with the Battalion on that day was 2nd Lieutenant James Hoste Welldon, their CO gives a little more insight into the action that probably cost the lives of both Oates and Welldon at Lateau Wood:

'He (Welldon) was holding with his Platoon a strong point at Quennet Farm just north of the wood. It was surrounded and completely cut off early in the day. It was very bad luck, as the Hun was let through a little distance to the north of this point and they afterwards cut the farm off from the westward side. I did not get any of his Platoon back.'

Oates is commemorated upon the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval; sold together with Cap Badge, copied research and his portrait which was featured in Bond of Sacrifice.

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Sold for
£180

Starting price
£130