Six: Acting Sergeant Major C. Yeates, Manchester Regiment and Military Mounted Police, who was awarded the M.S.M. for Mesopotamia

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Elandslaagte, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4811 Cpl C. Yeates. Manchester Regt.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4811 Serjt. C. Yeates. Manch: Regt.); 1914 Star, with clasp (4811 Sjt. C. Yeates. 1/Manch: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (4811 A. W.O. Cl. 2. C. Yeates. Manch. R.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (4811 Sjt. C. Yeates. 2/Manch: R.) mounted court-style for display, contact marks to the Boer War pair, nearly very fine and better (6) £500-£700

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Robert Barltrop Collection of Medals to the Manchester Regiment.

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M.S.M. London Gazette 16 August 1917 (Mesopotamia).

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916.

Charles Yeates was born at Bristol on 24 March 1872 and attested for service in the Manchester Regiment on 23 December 1895. He served with 1st Battalion in the South African War and was with the half battalion of his regiment at Elandslaagte, and was also at Caesar’s Camp in the Defence of Ladysmith. By 8 May 1900 he had been promoted to Sergeant. His battalion embarked on the S.S. Dilwara on 11 March 1903, bound for Singapore, but by 1904 were destined for service in India. His battalion was mobilised for service on 8 August 1914 and took ship to Marseilles and thence to Ypres and Festubert. At this time Sergeant Yeates was serving at least nominally attached to the Military Mounted Police, but appears to have remained with his battalion. By 1916 he had been posted with the Manchester Regiment to the Mesopotamia Field Force, arriving in Basra on 22 January 1916 and took part in the advance along the Tigris, the Relief of Kut and the taking of Baghdad. Acting Sergeant Major Yeates returned to England on 22 September 1919, having seen continuous service ‘with the colours’ since 1897. He was discharged on 9 November 1919, his stated place of residence being at Orchard Street, Weston Super Mare. He had been tried by District Court Martial in 1908 over alleged ‘embezzlement of funds’, which may explain the lack of a Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Sold with copied research.