| Sidney Bates | |
| Birth Date: | 14 June 1921 |
| Birth Place: | Camberwell, London, England |
| Death Place: | Sourdeval, German-occupied France |
| Placeofburial: | Bayeux War Cemetery,[1] Calvados, France |
| Nickname: | "Basher"[2] |
| Allegiance: | United Kingdom |
| Serviceyears: | 1940–1944 |
| Rank: | Corporal |
| Branch: | British Army |
| Servicenumber: | 5779898 |
| Unit: | Royal Norfolk Regiment |
| Awards: | Victoria Cross |
Corporal Sidney Bates VC (14 June 1921 – 8 August 1944) was a British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Upon his unit being attacked Bates charged the enemy forcing the enemy to retreat, during which he was hit several times and died later of his wounds.
Sidney Bates was born in Camberwell, London on 14 June 1921 to Frederick, a rag and bone man, and Gladys May Bates. At the outbreak of World War II, Bates was working as a carpenter's labourer. He joined the British Army and served with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment in June 1940 shortly after it returned from being stationed in Delhi, British India. By 1944, the battalion was part of the 185th Infantry Brigade, itself one of three brigades forming part of the 3rd Infantry Division. The battalion landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944 as part of Operation Overlord.
In the afternoon of 6 August 1944 near Viessoix, France the 1st Battalion was in the process of relieving a battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment when an attack by units of the 10th SS Panzer Division started with an artillery barrage forcing the British infantry into shelter in their positions. Panzergrenadiers supported by "two or three" Tiger tanks came on in column then at around 200 yards deployed into lines of infantry between the tanks with both the tanks and troops firing at the British positions[3]
Captain Dye, a witness of the events, said that in such situations under fire it was difficult to get soldiers to fire back rather than shelter and a good section commander could do so.[4] Bates was a section commander. Bates seized a Bren light machine-gun and leaving the trench charged, moving forward through a hail of bullets firing at the enemy. Dye saw him hit and fall to the ground before getting up and advancing firing again for another 40 yards. He was hit again and got up once more staggering forward for a few more yards before falling to the ground and not moving again. His actions inspired the company who started firing back. In the face of the defensive fire, the grenadier advance slowed stopped and they went to ground then started to withdraw behind the tanks. British artillery was called down on the positions and the Germans were driven off by early evening.
The stretcher bearers collected Bates finding him only 15 yards from a dead German soldier n subsided. Though he was alive he had been shot through the throat and leg and died in hospital two days later.[5]
The final costs of fighting around Sourdeval for the Norfolks was 160 casualties out of 550. The recommendation for the award was made by Major Cooper-Key, the commanding officer of B Company of the 1st Battalion. The recommendation was turned down initially but Cooper-Key persevered. According to Sergeant George Smith the battalion had been on the march when they had come under fire. A Bren gunner had been killed next to Corporal Bates, who had immediately seized the machine gun and started firing on the enemy.
The announcement and accompanying citation for the decoration was published in supplement to the London Gazette on 2 November 1945, reading[6]
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Norfolk Regiment Museum, Norwich, England. The museum trustees purchased it for £20,000 in the 1980s. His was one of five VCs won by members of the Royal Norfolk Regiment during the Second World War.
The grave of Sidney Bates can be found in the Bayeux Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery, Calvados, France. (Reference 20E)[7]
There is a memorial to Bates near Perrier Ridge at Pavée[8] about 1 km south of the hamlet of Sourdeval named in the citation (not to be confused with the market town of Sourdeval about 20km (10miles) away). At the same location a block reads "In memory of the men of the 3rd Bn Monmouthshire Regt, The 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt and all other units who died defending this ridge against overwhelming odds, 5th to 10th August 1944."
A street in Norwich development is named "Bates Green" in commemoration;[9] neighbouring streets are named after other Royal Norfolk regiment recipients of the Victoria Cross.