Current Information:

Enlisted-London

Rue-du-Bacquerot1 Military Cemetery, Laventie, France

At the start of the war the 2nd Middlesex battalion were in Malta but they soon returned to England where they joined 23 Brigade of 8th Division. The division landed in France on 5th November, 1914 and on 14th November 2nd Middlesex had their first experience of the trenches at Neuve Eglise. On 18^th November they moved to Laventie and into trenches at Rue de Bacquerot where they remained for the rest of the month. At this time there was no heavy fighting in this sector but lots of minor activity such as active patrolling and the routine shelling by both sides that was a constant feature of trench warfare. Sydney Coates was killed on 28th November, 1914, but as yet there is no further information concerning his death.