Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William John Vater, one of 7 known children, was the 2nd born of 4 brothers and had 2 elder and 1 younger sister. His father and mother John Vater and Emily Pearce, born at Pontnewydd, Monmouthshire, Wales, in 1854 and 1861 respectively, were married in 1883, district of Pontypool, Monmouthshire and settled in their home village, birthplace of all their children. Lily, Ann Louisa and Augustus were born in 1885, July 2nd 1886 and January 10th 1888 respectively, William John in 1890 whilst they were living at 2, New Terrace, where their father was foreman at the coal mine. Over the next 5 years Emily gave birth to a further 3 children, George 1892, Stanley 1893 and Mary Ann 1896. Sadly, John Vater died June 17th 1898, aged 48-years, by 1901 Emily had moved to 8, Dyke Row and to make a living was taking in laundry, Annie Louisa (14) was an apprentice dressmaker, Augustus (13) a colliery boy assistant below ground, William John (11), George (9), Stanley (8) and Mary Ann (5) although of school age are not listed as scholars. Lily Vater had left Wales with a local man 10 years her elder, George William Pearce, born 1875. They were married in the district of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in 1899, when she was only 14-years old and in the census of 1901 were living in the village of Etherley Dene where George William (26) was deputy overman at the colliery, Lily is listed as 19 years of age when in fact she was only 16-years old. William John (21) had migrated to the north east by 1911 and moved into their home, consisting of 3 rooms at 52, Low Westwood, Ebchester, County Durham, both men were employed as miners. Lily and George now had a daughter, 2-year old Emily Pearce, their son Albert Henry was born May 30th 1917.
William John Vater was married during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1912 to Barbara Bean of Westwood, born March 21st 1889, their son Stanley was born, May 10th 1912 and daughter Elizabeth Hodgson Vater, June 9th 1914, within less than 2 months, Britain had declared a state of war with Germany, August 4th 1914.
After the declaration of war William John enlisted in the City of York where he was assigned to the 9th Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment, service number 12523, rank at the time of enlistment, unknown. All regiments of the Army had been ordered to raise new battalions, the 9th (Service) Battalion was part of Kitchener’s New Armies, raised at York, August 25th 1914 and came under the orders of the 32nd Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division. After initial training near York they moved to Grantham, Lincolnshire and April 4th 1915 to Frensham in Surrey for final training. Lance Sergeant Vater departed with his division, one of only 3 New Army divisions, as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, July 3rd 1915, from the port of Liverpool bound for Mudros a town on the North Aegean island of Lemnos.
The first action of the 9th West Yorkshire Regiment was the landing at Sulva Bay, Gallipoli, August 9th 1915, necessary due to insufficient space to accommodate all new troops within the Anzac perimeter. The Sulva Bay landing was made by the newly formed British IX Corps comprising two brigades of the 10th (Irish) Division and the entire 11th (Northern) Division, under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stopford, who had seen little combat and had never commanded men in battle. The offensive began with diversionary action, August 6th, the landing at Sulva Bay was to commence 3 days later at 10 p.m. under the cover of darkness. The amphibious landing was to put the 11th Division ashore south of Nibrunesi Point the scope was to seize the surrounding hills. The Yorkshires took heavy casualties, officers killed and wounded and one third of the units other ranks.
Lance Sergeant 12523 William John Vater West Yorkshire Regiment, initially reported as missing, is presumed to have died during the landings, July 9th 1915, his death accepted and notified September 3rd 1915. He was 25 years of age.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of more than 20,000 names inscribed on the Helles Memorial, Turkey (including Gallipoli), a Commonwealth battle memorial for the Gallipoli Campaign it also commemorates those Commonwealth servicemen who died and have no known grave. Standing on the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsular it takes the form of an obelisk over 30 metres high and can be seen by ships passing through the Dardanelles.
His widow received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, also a pension for herself and their children of 19 shillings a week, granted Match 27th 1916 to be received as of April 3rd 1916, sent to her at 2, Prospect Terrace, Hamsterley Colliery and later 11, Edward Street, Hamsterley Colliery.
Barbara married again in the district of Lanchester, County Durham, in 1921 to Joseph Powell born March 9th 1882, with whom she had 4 children, Evelyn 1921-2009, William 1924-2010, Florence 1928-1928 and Derek 1931-1998. In 1939 they were living at 1, Cement Houses, district of Consett, with their son Derek, a scholar, Joseph supported his family employed as a coal hewer.
Both of William John and Barbara’s children were married. Stanley Vater married in 1937, Frances Mary Harrison, in Gateshead, County Durham, she was born September 2nd 1918. In 1939 employed as a coal cutter, he and his wife were living at Medomsley Edge, district of Consett, their daughter Margaret C. Vater was born in 1940, spouse Thomas P. Armstrong, married 1960. Stanley Vater (91) died in 2003, preceded by his wife Francis Mary (84) both registered Durham Central.
Elizabeth Hodgson Vater married at Ebchester, County Durham, September 18th 1937, Police Constable, Charles Swift, born May 5th 1911. They left the north east and in 1939 were living at 2, Tor Gardens, Kensington & Chelsea, London. Charles (30) died, May 11th 1941 and Elizabeth married again, July 26th 1947 to engineer/storekeeper James Thomas Mackey born October 15th 1907. Their son John was born in London, August 10th 1949. As of circa 1959 her mother Barbara Powell came to live with them as her second husband James Powell had died in 1959. Barbara Powell-Vater nee Bean died in Kensington, London in 1961 aged 72-years. Elizabeth outlived her second husband and son as James Thomas Mackey (83) died at High Peak, Cheshire, June 9th 1991, son John Mackey (52) in 2001. Elizabeth Hodgson Mackey-Swift nee Vater died at Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, February15th 2009, aged 94-years.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William John Vater is remembered at Durham on D47.091, at Ebchester on E58.02 at Hamsterley Colliery on H140.01 and H140.04 and at Medomsley on M36.01
