Photo: Dorothy Hall
Son of William and Annie Elizabeth Coates, of 38, Newgate, Barnard Castle.
The headstone reads:-
In loving memory of
William Johnson
son of William and Annie E. Coates
who died November 1st 1918
in his 20th year
Also of the above
Annie E. Coates
who died May 31st 1952
in her 80th year
Also of the above
William Coates
who died March 10th 1962
aged 87 years
Also their son
John A Coates
who died Sept. 29th 1959
aged 56 years
Also Annie
beloved wife of
John A Coates
who died May 18th 1958
aged 64 years
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
William was born at Teesdale in 1899 the son of William and Annie Elizabeth (nee Gee).
The couple from Yorkshire had 6 children together unfortunately 1 died. The children were William, John Anthony, Sarah Annie, Reginald and in 1912 another son Norman Percival.
There appears to have been another daughter Annie Elizabeth who was born in the same year as William ie 1899. It is possible she was his twin.
On 1901 census William senior was working as a joiner/Cartwright with his own business. The family lived at Church Yard, Barnard Castle.
By 1911 William senior’s business seems to be prospering as he is now an employer and able to afford a servant. Also living with them at that time was William’s grandfather (another William) who was a retired farmer. He was aged 78.
Young William had been an assistant at Walter Willson’s grocery shop in the town (as was his brother, Norman), until he enlisted upon reaching the age of 19.
In March 1917 it was reported in the Teesdale Mercury that he had been hospitalised with trench fever.
Prior to his illness he wrote to a member of his family (probably a brother) describing his leave in Leeds where he went absent to go out with a “tart”.
He was posted to France. By mid October 1917 he was entitled to home leave. Unfortunately he caught Spanish Flu in the trenches. He insisted on coming home as he was due his leave but whilst at home he was taken ill and subsequently died of double pneumonia on November 1st 1918, a shortly over week into his leave.
William was buried in Barnard Castle Non-Conformist Cemetery.
The Teesdale Mercury 06/11/1918 reports:-
The death of a young soldier at Barnard Castle took place under painful circumstances on Friday afternoon, Private W.J. Coates of the Sherwood Foresters, succumbing at the home of his parents Mr and Mrs W. Coates Newgate. Private Coates, who joined the army on attaining the age of 18 about a year ago, went to France with his regiment last December and returned home on his first leave on Friday week. He was taken ill and went straight to bed where he laid for a week before he died, double pneumonia being the cause of death. The internment took place yesterday, service being held in the Primitive Methodist Church. Prior to his enlistment Private Coates was in the employ of Messrs Walter Willson at the local branch shop.
William Johnson Coates is remembered in Barnard Castle on B135.13, B135.23 and B135.25
