John Edwin Yates (1897-1917) was born in Birmingham, England, on November 29, 1897. He came to Canada alone, leaving his mother in England, and settled in Carlyle, Saskatchewan. On February 2, 1916, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. That October he arrived in France with the 152nd Battalion, aboard the SS Missanabie. He was later attached to the 32nd Battalion and the 15th Reserve Battalion. After serving with the infantry for almost over a year, Yates transferred into the Royal Flying Corps of the Imperial Army. He attended a training school that July, and by August flew with the No. 70 Squadron. He then joined the No. 73 Squadron on October 21, 1917. He was killed in action just two weeks later, on November 1, 1917, and buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium. He was 19 years old.
Service Record Details
Date of Birth: November 29, 1897
Date of Attestation: February 2, 1916 (Weyburn, Saskatchewan)
Age at Enlistment: 18
Height: 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches
Weight: Not indicated
Description: Dark complexion, blue yes, black hair. Methodist.
Home Address: Carlyle, Saskatchewan
Trade: Drug Clerk
Married: No
Details of Family: Father, Edwin Edward Yates, living in Olympia, Scotland. Mother, Mrs. Grace E. Yates, living in Nottingham, England.
Next of Kin: Edwin Edward Yates—Father (later changed to his mother)
Branch of Service: Canadian Expeditionary Force (later with Royal Flying Corps)
Theatre of War: England, France, Belgium
Casualties
- November 1, 1917 – Yates’s CEF discharge papers indicate that he was killed in action. (Page 13)
Interesting Details from the Service Record
- September 19, 1916 – In his will he leaves his personal estate to his mother, Mrs. Edwin Yates of Nottingham, England. Here his occupation is listed as student. (Page 4)
- October 10, 1916 – He sails from Halifax on the SS Missanabie. (Page 20)
- July 19, 1917 – His military character is described as very good. (Page 13)
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