Courtesy of Chilliwack Museum and Archives)

Jean Longstaff, with the assistance of Jim Busby in Canada, has submitted the following:

Ian Vernon Coote was the eldest son of Tynesiders Andrew Leslie and Fanny Coote (nee Kirby) who had emigrated to Canada in 1893 and settled in British Columbia. He was born on 9th February 1897 in Chilliwack and had two older sisters, Hilda and Janet, a younger brother Russell and a younger sister Ada, the baby of the family born in 1900.

After attending King Edward School in Vancouver, Ian went on to study law, also in Vancouver. He mobilised with the 72nd (Seaforth Highlanders) Regiment and took officer training with them in November 1915. He sailed to England, at his own expense in March 1916, to join his father’s regiment, the 47th Battalion at Bramshott, Hampshire and attested as a lieutenant on 20th April 1916.

The Battalion, including his father and younger brother, sailed for France on 10th August as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division, and a month later Ian was attached to Infantry Brigade HQ as an Orderly Officer, and then went on leave with his father and brother in early December. Lieutenant Coote rejoined the 47th Battalion in France in April 1917, but three months later was attached to 3rd Army HQ as a Staff Captain; he was eventually seconded to the War Office and attached to the 95th Infantry Brigade HQ.

On leave in England in February 1919 he didn’t return to France, and on ceasing to be seconded to the War Office was attached to the Canadian Corps Camp at Ripon, near to the home of his parents. Returning to Canada in June, for his war service he was Mentioned in Dispatches.

Still active in 1925 with the Westminster Fusiliers, two years later he moved to England and settled in Chingford, Essex where he worked for Cork Manufacturing and Flexo Plywood , eventually becoming the director of the firm. On 5th May 1934 he married Barbara Mary Collenette at St Mary le Strand Church in London, their first son Arthur Andrew was born in 1937, and the 1939 Register shows them living at Little Hill, Enfield, Middlesex. Ian is listed as Managing Director of an aircraft plywood company and captain in the Canadian Reserve Guard, whilst Barbara was doing war work with the Red Cross.

Moving back to Chingford he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commander of J Zone, Home Guard. When his father returned to Canada to live in 1942, Ian also returned to Canada, but his visit was to source a constant timber supply from Canada for his company in England, of which his father was chairman of the board. The same year Ian was appointed as a Justice of the Peace and the following year was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Essex. His two younger sons Richard and Adrian were born in 1943 and 1945.

After the war Ian was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 588th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, and like his father before him he was also awarded an OBE, for his work as the local Army Welfare Officer in Chingford.

Ian Vernon Coote died on 3rd August 1974 at the family home, Fair Green Lodge, Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, and was cremated; his wife Barbara died in 2006 in Essex.

In December 2012 Ian Vernon Coote’s medals, along with his father’s, were auctioned in Fakenham, Norfolk and were purchased by the Chilliwack Museum, where they are now on display.

Ian Vernon Coote is remembered in Newcastle-upon Tyne on NUT159