George Allix Lavington Yate

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

YATE, George Allix Lavington. (reg No. 1339).

Major. 2nd Battalion. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

London Gazetted on 25th November 1914.

VC Medal's Custodian is King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum, Doncaster.

Born on 14th March 1872 at Madeley, Shropshire.

Died on 20th September 1914 , from his wounds whilst in a Prisoner-of-War Camp at Targau, Germany. * Memorial on grave at Berlin South-Western Cemetery, Stahsdorf, Germany.

Digest of Citation reads: Major Yate was commanding a company, one of two, that had remained to the end in the trenches on the 26th August, 1914, at Le Cateau in France. When all the officers were killed or wounded, and their ammunition finished, he led the remaining 19 survivors in a charge against the enemy. He was severely wounded in this charge and was eventually captured by the Germans and taken eventually to a prison camp. It was here, at Targau, POW Camp that he died on the 20th September 1914.

Additional information:. Major Yate was the son of the Prebendary George Edward Yate. He was educated at Weymouth College and in 1890 entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, where out of 1100 candidates, he passed out in ninth place. On 13th August 1892, he joined the 2nd Battalion the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry in Bombay. He gained the medal and clasp of the Tirah Expedition (1897-98), during which he saw his first action. In 1899 he was promoted to Captain. At the outbreak of the Boer War he was with his regiment in Mauritius. From here they were picked up by HMS Powerful who had been ordered take the KOYLI to South Africa. Major Yate was so seriously wounded at the Battle of Graspan that he wasn't considered fit enough to return to active service until the war was almost over. He was in the party that went under a white flag to see General Botha regarding the negotiations for peace. His Queen's Medal and four Clasps were awarded for service in the Boer War. On 17th September 1903 he married Florence Helena Brigg. They had no children. He hunted with the hounds at Albrighton, played polo, enjoyed skiing. He enjoyed writing and wrote several articles for Blackwood's Magazine.

* It is said, by some, that he was wounded trying to escape from Targau. It is true that he was severely wounded in the charge on 26th August 1914, and it is more likely that he died of these wounds.