COATES, Frederick Noel


Second Lieutenant, Frederick Noel COATES
Aged 23


22nd (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
formerly Private 320, 16th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Died of his Wounds on Wednesday, 4th April 1917

Frederick Noel COATES was born on Christmas Day, 1894, in Whitley, Northumberland (Tynemouth Q1-1895 10B:224), son of John Robson and Edith Annie COATES (née FIELD).

1901 census...Aged 6, he was at 37 Victoria Avenue, Whitley with his father John Robson COATES [38] a water company accountant born Medomsley, Durham; his mother Edith Annie [31] born Newcastle on Tyne; brother Albert Charles [15] born Ryton, Durham; sisters Edith Vera [8] born Newcastle on Tyne and Mabel [3] born Whitley.

1911 census...Aged 16, a commercial clerk, he was still at 37 Victoria Avenue with his parents, sisters Edith Vera, Mabel and Enid Amy [5] and Gwendoline F [7 months]; brother Angus Robson [9]. The new siblings all born in Whitley

When he enlisted in 1914, his parent's address is recorded as 8 South Parade, Whitley Bay. They were still there at the time of his death.


He enlisted on 10th September 1914 in Newcastle on Tyne in the Northumberland Fusiliers, No.320, 16th Battalion. He was single, giving his age as 19 years 259 days, a wireless telegraphy student from Whitley Bay, weighing 121 lbs (55.1 kg), 5 feet 7.5 inches tall (171.5 cm), chest 31" to 35", (78.7 to 88.9 cm) blue eyes, fair hair, a Wesleyan. His next of kin given as father, John Robson COATES. and on 18th September 1915 was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant.

He died of his wounds at No.102 Field Ambulance, which would be quite close to where he was in action. However the battalion war diaries of March and April 1917 do not mention him, and unfortunately the February diary is missing.

His personal belongings forwarded to this father were:- 2 wrist watches with guards, 1 with missing glass- 1 fountain pen - 1 gold ring - 1 aluminium ring - 1 tie pin- 1 stud - identity discs - metal cigarette case.

He was also commemorated on the stained glass memorial window in Whitley Bay, Trinity Wesleyan Methodist Church which was destroyed in the bombing in 1940.








Frederick Coates is buried in Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery, Arras grave 3:N:19

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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