Harold Bates - Birmingham - Help Needed

[svsaunders1978]

Hey all,

I am on a bit of a mission to find out all there is to know about my great uncle Harold Bates from Birmingham, UK.

From speaking to my grandmother and the limited information on Ancestry : his birth year was approx 1922 in Birmingham and he died in 1942 at the age of 19. The entry found for his birth is correct as it lists Aubrey as his mothers maiden name which is correct.

The story about Harold is that he died at 19 before he could enlist in the war effort and we dont know why.

His death certificate has just been ordered and the hope is that there is some kind of additional information and possibly even a photo floating around on the internet.

My grandmother doesnt have long left and is keen to see any details about the brother she never knew. Her family were always typically closed about anything to do with past relatives so its proving a real challenge.

I guess I am trying to give her some kind of closure and search for the impossible but if you dont try you dont knew etc

Anyone able to help or at least point me in the right direction please?

Harold parents were Florence Bates (Aubrey) and Edwin Bates.

Thanks

Scott

 

[barbarajoh]

hello Scott and welcome

Have had a look at the papers in case it was a sudden death but not finding anything to help as yet. Perhaps when you get the certificate you can let us know and we might be able to help further. it could have been an illness of some kind. Did the family live in Birmingham? Have you checked the trees on A in case anyone else has more information?

Or someone else might have better luck with the papers than me!

Barbara

 

[svsaunders1978]

Thanks, Barbara,

I am sure that every family has their mysteries, however, it does seem that mine has more than most

 

[stockpot]

The 1939 register has him living at 79 Cowley Rd with his widowed mother Florence and two others whose entry is blocked (i.e. born after 1915 and died after 1991 - possibly Jean born 1927 and Leslie born 1930?). He was born 1 June 1922 and he was a shop assistant, wet fish.

EDIT :- FOLLOWING IS PROBABLY NOT HIM, I NOW SEE HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER WERE EDWIN SO WOULD EXPECT HIS MIDDLE NAME TO BE EDWIN, NOT ERNEST
The register of his birth gives his middle initial as E.
Find My Past has Attestations for the Royal Artillery up to 1942. There was an Harold Ernest Bates listed in 1940, I have no idea whether that was him but he would have been 18, the normal call up age. Each entry in the list shows where the recruit was sent but this man is crossed out and listed as "cancelled M of L 9.10.40". A few other men have this by their name but it is unusual.
M of L is Ministry of Labour and I think it denoted the man was released from military service as he was in a reserved occupation or some other reason. I don't know whether being responsible for his mother and two younger siblings would be enough, if indeed it was him.

I hope the death certificate sheds more light on this for you.
Elaine

 

[stockpot]

I wonder whether this is an indication :-

The WW1 service record of Harold's father Edwin Samuel Bates is on Ancestry. He enlisted 25.10.15 and was discharged 22.3.16 as physically unfit, not likely to become an efficient soldier.

He suffered from valvular disease of the heart, had a mitral seplotic (?) murmur, a double aortic murmur and a m....t t.....pis murmur. There were signs of failing ......... in the pulmonary circulation and he had also suffered several fainting fits.

He died in 1933 at the age of 37. Do you think his son Harold could have inherited his heart condition and that was the cause of him dying so young. If so the death cert will confirm. (there was a very similar case in my husband's family)

hope this helps
Elaine