BATE, Thomas

Thomas Bate was a regular soldier who had enlisted in the Worcesters. In 1914 he was serving in the 3rd Battalion, which was part of the British Expeditionary Force and which was mobilised immediately war was declared on the 4th August. They took part in the opening battle at Mons and in the retreat to the Marne. There the BEF steadied its line and the German plan to achieve victory in two months was foiled. The enemy forces were pushed back to the Aisne where a series of minor actions took place on the north bank of the river. Private Thomas Bate was killed in action on the 20th September in one these.. He is buried in Braine Communal Cemetery (A 18) and is commemorated on the Halesowen Memorial.