Private Rudolph Bannister Yates
5849 1st Munster Fusiliers
Formerly 3155 Lancers of the line
Killed in action 7th September 1916, aged 31
Lived at 20 Gillow Street
Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France
Burnley Express 16th September 1916 - 27th September 1916 - 27th January 1917 - 3rd February 1917

Rudolph Bannister Yates was born in Burnley the son of Thomas & Elizabeth Yates of 20 Gillowe Street (off Plumbe Street), Burnley.. He had enlisted at Burnley in the 12th Lancers in September 1914 and was subsequently transferred as Private 5849 to the 1st Bn., Royal Munster Fusiliers. He was killed in action, aged 31, on Friday 8th September 1916 and is commemorated at the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 16C).

The Burnley Express of September 16th 1916 reported that :-
“One of Six Brothers. Officer’s Message in Killed Soldier’s Book.
A German sniper’s bullet has closed a promising Burnley soldier’s career and caused a heavy loss to St Peter’s Church. The news of the sad end of Pte. (5849) Rudolph Bannister Yates, of the Royal Munster Fusiliers came to his former home, 29 Gillowe Street in a letter from Sec. Lieut. John J. O’Shea who is in the 1st Western General Hospital, Fazackerley, Liverpool. The officer wrote “Enclosed please find pocket book the property of Pte Yates of the Royal Munster Fusiliers killed in action last week. I was in charge on the day that he met his death, and this was given me by one of the men before I was sent back to hospital suffering from shell shock. I was soon taken to the hospital and regret that I had no opportunity of sending on the pocket book earlier, kindly accept my sincerest regrets for your loss which is also felt by the officers and men of the regiment.
In the pocket book Sec-Lieut. O’Shea wrote under date Sept 7th. “Pte. Yates was killed by my side by a sniper’s bullet, which struck him in the front of the head and emerged at the back. He became unconscious at once and remained so to the end. Deeply regretted by myself and all his comrades..

Pte Yates who was aged 32 years and a weaver at Messrs. John Spencer’s Queen’s Mill. Enlisted in the 12th Lancers during the September Holidays two years ago he was subsequently transferred to the Royal Munster Fusiliers and was in the Dardenelles Campaign He was attacked by dysentery and was sent to Malta. On recovery he was for a time on the Postal staff at Malta but this year was brought away and sent to the Continent where he had been for 14 days when he met his death. He was exceedingly well known at St. Peter’s Church where at the time of his enlistment he had been Secretary for 8 years of the Sunday School; was secretary of the Ruri-decanal Insurance Society and was a member of the Church Council and a sidesman. Pte Yates‘ 5 brothers are in the Army - James (Scottish Regiment), Harry (Royal Engineers) , Ben (Warwickshire Regiment) who had been at the Dardenelles where he suffered from frost bite and rheumatism.; Willie is in the Royal Garrison Artillery and Tom is in training.”

The Burnley Express of September 27th 1916 reported:-
“Bishop’s Tribute. The Late Private R.B. Yates.
A memorial service was held at St. Peter’s Church, Burnley, on Sunday morning to the late Private R.B. Yates, formerly general secretary of the Boys@ Sunday School, sidesman, assistant secretary to the Free Will Offering scheme , and parish secretary of the Rural deanery Insurance Society. The scholars of the boys’ and girls’ schools assembled at 10.15, and went in procession to the church. There were also present a number of workpeople employed at Messrs. Spencer’s queen’s Mill, where Pte Yates worked before enlisting. The body of the church was filled , and a considerable number of people were accommodated in the gallery. The service was very impressive. Suitable hymns were sung , and the Te Deum and Benedictine to Stanford in B flat were well rendered by the choir. A beautiful service was ended by the Dead March in “Saul” being played by the organist, Mr W.A.C. Cruickshank, Mus. Bac.
The Bishop of Burnley was the preacher, and took as his text Rev., xiv., 13 2. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours for their works follow with them”. The bishop said that in the days when they took up the morning newspaper, they felt full of anxiety as they read of one they had known and respected having fallen in battle or being wounded and perhaps seriously disabled for life. There was anxiety and sorrow all around them, and yet it was a good thing they should have the opportunity of considering the question of death. The Christian religion carried them good news and it bade them not to be sorry; not to regard death as a taking away, but to look on death as passage opening up to eternal life. The Christian Religion bade them to remember that “Blessed from henceforth are they that die in the Lord” for they were “Asleep in Jesus.” Their holy religion bade them look forward to the future with thanksgiving for their lives, in the hope of the resurrection of the dead. Death came with its awful hand on rich and poor alike, and it united all in the community. Miners, weavers, learned, and statesmen had all died cheerfully in the cause which our country had entered with sorrow and reluctance. They were thanking God for the life of one who was brought up in the shadow of the school and church which he loved, for one who had faithfully worked amongst them, taking his part fully and actively of all the institutions of the parish

The Official notification of his death was printed in the Burnley Express of Feb 3rd 1917.

Notes.
A letter in the Burnley Express of May 6th 1916 from R B. Yates (who was a sidesman at St. Peter’s Church) had been written from Malta thanking Burnley Football Club for the gift of a football

Rudolph Yates admitted to St Peter’s Infant School on 17/6/1889. Born on 18/1/85 his father was Thomas Yates of 36 Master Street. Rudolph was admitted to St Peter’s Junior School on 20/2/1893. He is listed as being born on 14/1/85(!) And living at 36 Master Street

Rudolph witnessed the wedding of William Yates at St Peter’s Church on 9/6/06.

The Burnley Express Roll of Honour mentions that his sister and brother Mr Mrs Wigglesworth lived at 347 Rossendale Road and he was also remembered by Ben (in France) and Sarah.
1901 Census - 36 Master Street - Elizabeth Yates – widow (52) born Colne. William (17), Rudolph B. (14) weaver, and Benjamin (11) born in Burnley. Mary Ann Clegg (62) visitor born Nelson.