Rifleman Horace Edward Bates, 392299, 1/9th Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles), died of wounds in the 2nd Stationary Hospital, Abbeville, France, on April 22nd, 1917. He was aged 24.

Parents Edward and Elizabeth Bates, of 57 Buxton Road, Luton, were informed by the hospital matron that their son had been admitted on April 19th with severe wounds to the chest and damaged lungs. He grew gradually worse, passing peacefully away on April 22nd. He was to be buried in a local cemetery, in a section reserved for British soldiers.

Rifleman Bates had written to his parents from hospital to say he was not seriously wounded, but a subsequent official telegram said he was seriously ill. He had joined the London Regiment in November 1915 and had been in France for six months at the time of his death. The bullet wounds were believed to have been caused by a sniper.

Prior to enlistment Horace Bates was employed at the Hastings Street branch of the Luton Industrial Co-operative Society.