A name on the memorial, remembered
ANYONE who lives in Downend will be familiar with the Boy Scout Memorial which stands outside Sainsbury’s.
It commemorates six young men of the local scout group, and their leader Rev Alexander, who all lost their lives in the First World War.
However, there were many more local men who made the ultimate sacrifice. If you look above the door of the porch at Christ Church, you will see a large memorial plaque in their memory – 164 names in all.
One of these young men was Frederick James Coates. Born on June 3, 1891, he lived in Winterbourne in his early years.
His mother Paulina died when Freddie was just six years old, and his sisters Beatrice and Flossie were ten and eight. Their father Edwin died a few years later, in 1904. It is difficult to imagine how the young family coped with these hardships.
Freddie attended Winterbourne School and left aged 15, in 1907, to join the Royal Navy.
His family’s financial situation may well have been the prime driver in Freddie’s decision. In the Navy he had board and lodging and a regular wage, so he could send money home to his family.
At this time boys as young as 14 could join up, but could not enter combat until they were 18.
We don’t have a picture of Freddie, but naval records describe him at age 18 as 5ft 6in tall, with dark brown hair and light blue eyes. He had a tattoo on his left forearm.
Freddie did not marry or have children.
His naval career was varied, aboard many ships including HMS Impregnable, Vivid, Bellerophon and Cornwallis. He served at the Battle of Jutland during his time on HMS Marshall, from 1915 to 1916.
Freddie’s final ship was a torpedo-boat destroyer named HMS Foyle, tasked with escorting convoys and hunting down the U-boats that mined British waters and attacked merchant vessels.
On March 15, 1917, HMS Foyle struck a contact mine laid by German submarine UC-68, approximately 12 miles southeast of Plymouth breakwater.
The explosion blew the ship’s bows off, resulting in the loss of 27 of the 70 crew, including Freddie.
His body was not recovered.
Freddie’s sister, Florence, was his next of kin and lived on Badminton Road in Downend.
Freddie is also commemorated on the war memorial at Page Park and on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
He was awarded three medals for his service: the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Able Seaman Frederick James Coates, service number 23829: a young man who, like thousands of others, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. Remembered with honour.
• For more details about Downend Community History and Arts Project (CHAP), visit www.downendchap.org or write to CHAP, 49 Overnhill Road, Downend, Bristol, BS16 5DS.
Jenny Alcock