Sidney Bates VC (June 14, 1921 - August 8, 1944) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since Events 1276 - While taking exile in Fuzhou in southern China, away from the advancing Mongol invaders, the remnants of the Year 1921 ( MCMXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1921 calendar of the Gregorian calendar Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland See below the section "Separate Commonwealth awards" Note that since The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located
He was the son of Frederick (a rag and bone man) and Gladys May Bates, of Camberwell in London. For the White Stripes song see Rag and Bone. Rag-and-bone man is a British phrase for a Junk dealer Camberwell is a district of London, England and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. He joined the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1940 after it had returned from Delhi. Delhi (दिल्ली ਦਿੱਲੀ دلی d̪ɪlːiː sometimes referred to as Dilli) is the second largest metropolis of India, with a population
He was 23 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and also by some police forces or other uniformed organizations The Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry Regiment of the British Army. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including
On 6 August 1944 near Sourdeval, France, when the enemy had penetrated deeply in the area occupied by his section, Corporal Bates seized a light machine-gun and charged, moving forward through a hail of bullets. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sourdeval is a Village and commune in the Manche département of north-western France. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Although wounded twice he was undaunted and continued firing until the enemy started to withdraw before him. At this moment he was wounded for a third time mortally. He still went on firing, however, until his strength failed him, but by this time the enemy had withdrawn and the situation had been restored. He died two days later.
The Norfolk's position was under attack by the 10th SS Panzer Division. The final costs of fighting around Sourdeval for the Norfolks was 160 casualties out of 550. The recommendation for the award was made by Major Cooper-Key, the commanding officer of B Company of the Ist Battalion. The recommendation was turned down initially but Cooper-Key persevered. According to Sgt George Smith the battlalion had been on the march when they had come under fire. A Bren gunner had been killed next to Corporal Bates, who had immediately seized the machine gun and started firing on the enemy. The Bren (from '''Br'''no, the Czechoslovak city of design and '''En'''field, the location of the British Royal Small Arms Factory
The official citation in the London Gazette stated "Corporal Bates, by his supreme gallantry and self-sacrifice, had personally saved a critical situation". The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the UK in which certain
His grave is in the Bayeux War Cemetery, Calvados, France. The French department of Calvados forms part of the region of Basse-Normandie in Normandy. (Reference XX. E. 19)
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Norfolk Regiment Museum, Norwich England the trustees having purchased it for £20,000 in the 1980s. History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund His was one of 5 VC's won by members of the Royal Norfolks during the Second World War.
References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
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