Claro Times - 3rd April 1915

Photo - Private George Coates, Northumberland Fusiliers, whose home was at Starbeck, has been killed in action.

Claro Times - 3rd April 1915

Starbeck again figures in the casualty lists, this time having to regret the loss of Private George Coates, of the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. Private Coates, according to a letter from the Record Office, York, received on Tuesday by his parents at 1 Grove Street, Starbeck, was killed in the fighting of the 16th of the present month. He had been in France since the beginning of the war, having gone over with the first Expeditionary Force. He had been through all the big engagements, and his parents received several letters from him. The last letter from him was received on the 6th March.

The death of Private Coates is generally regretted, he being very well known. He was employed for five years at Messrs Maxwell , Grayson and Cole, of Harrogate, and enlisted in the Northumberland Fusiliers 15 months ago. He was first sent to Newcastle, and then to Portsmouth. He would have reached the age of 21 in May of this year.

A photograph of Private Coates will be found on another page.