Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Claude Edward C Bates

27/02/1891 –17/08/1943

Served in Army in WWI; stock exchange clerk who changed career to be come innkeeper of the Crown

• Melanie Hilton

Claude Edward Charles Bates (1891-1943)

Claude was born 27^th February 1891 in Camberwell, the son of Henry Francis Bates, a corn broker, and Elizabeth (née Smith).

By 1901 they were living in Southend on Sea but by the time of the 1911 census the family, now including his brother Frank, were at 2, Montem Road, Forest Hill, Lewisham. Young Claude was working as a stockbroker’s clerk.

On 29^th March 1912 Claude appears to have joined the army, although the record is unclear. Certainly he was seeing service by 1915, as his record reads: “Med[iterranean] Ex[peditionary] Force 25.15 to 31.7.16. Egyptian ditto 10.12.16 to 26.3.19. En route to RAF (Port Said) to join unit 27.3.19.”

On 9^th November 1915 he received a “slight” shrapnel wound to his right side and was wounded again 31.10.17.

On 10^th May 1918 he transferred to the RAF where he served until 20^th June 1919. Although the record does not describe his appearance it does tell us that Claude was 5 foot 9 inches tall with a chest expansion of 35 inches

He married Agnes Isobel Annie Bower (b 1893) 1919 in Lewisham .

In 1921 Claude and Agnes were living at 12 Blythe Hill, Catford. He was employed as an “authorised clerk, Stock Exchange” employed by the City firm of R Layton.

The 1932 electoral register for the polling district of Coleman Street in the City of London covers Copthall Buildings where Claude and Agnes are listed at number 3, along with a very long list of other names. Their “abode” is given as The Homestead, Birchwood Lane, Chaldon, Caterham. Everyone listed under Copthall Buildings is also shown with another abode. Presumably, working at the Stock Exchange, this was their London pied à terre.

Clearly something decided Claude on a drastic change of career and the 1939 Register records him, aged forty eight, as “hotel proprietor” and his probate record describes him “of The Crown”, Berkhamsted.

Claude died 17^th August 1943 aged fifty. Agnes survived him until 1975. They did not have any children.