Special Inspector Frank Bates Lancashire Special Constabulary
Frank Bates
The Story Frank Bates was born on Saturday 23rd April 1904 in Heywood, Lancashire, son of Herbert, a Gardener and Ada. He was one of three children, William born in 1903 and another unknown sibling who died very young. He was Baptised in St John the Evangelist Church, Hopwood on 22nd May. By Reverend F W Cleworth.
The 1911 census shows the family living at The Cottage, Egerton Villas, Heywood, Herbert still a Gardener on the Estate and Frank at School. In 1926 aged 18 Frank joined the Lancashire Constabulary as a Special Constable in Heywood and in the second quarter of 1928 married Alice Ridings in Rochdale.
In 1935 Frank was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and in the 1939 Register is shown living with Ada, who was also an ARP Warden living and living at 144 Egerton Street, next door to relatives of Ada, William and Elsie Ridings. His occupation was given as a Woolen Raiser and he later worked at A V Roe’s, most likely at the Stockport or Oldham factories, thus his job was a reserved occupation during World War II as they were involved in aircraft production.
Frank served in the SC throughout WWII and was awarded long service clasps to his medal in 1941 and 1944 with war service counting treble. He was promoted to Special Inspector in 1941 and became an Aircraft Inspector at Roe’s. Following the war he was also awarded the Defence Medal for his wartime service.
The 1911 census shows the family living at The Cottage, Egerton Villas, Heywood, Herbert still a Gardener on the Estate and Frank at School. In 1926 aged 18 Frank joined the Lancashire Constabulary as a Special Constable in Heywood and in the second quarter of 1928 married Alice Ridings in Rochdale.
In 1935 Frank was awarded his Special Constabulary Long Service Medal and in the 1939 Register is shown living with Ada, who was also an ARP Warden living and living at 144 Egerton Street, next door to relatives of Ada, William and Elsie Ridings. His occupation was given as a Woolen Raiser and he later worked at A V Roe’s, most likely at the Stockport or Oldham factories, thus his job was a reserved occupation during World War II as they were involved in aircraft production.
Frank served in the SC throughout WWII and was awarded long service clasps to his medal in 1941 and 1944 with war service counting treble. He was promoted to Special Inspector in 1941 and became an Aircraft Inspector at Roe’s. Following the war he was also awarded the Defence Medal for his wartime service.
Defence Medal. Speciasl Constalary Long Service Medal clasps 'Long Service 1941, 44, 52, 62'
He remained in the Lancashire SC being awarded further clasps in 1952 and 1962, the latter, when aged 59 was presented to him in the Mayor’s Parlour in Heywood, by Alderman T Merrick, Deputy Mayor.
Frank passed away during the last quarter of 1979 aged 75.
The Story The medals awarded to Frank Bates were acquired from E-Bay on a buy it now offer on 20th May 2023.
No hesitation was involved due to the scarcity of four clasped Special Constabulary Medals, especially if confirmed, which by virtue of a newspaper cutting and poor quality photograph of the recipient from a local newspaper receiving his fourth clasp, was.
Further checking on the Newspaper Archives revealed the full transcript of the award of Frank’s 1962 clasp, giving his age, address and some basic biographical detail. This enabled a specific search on Ancestry.UK which confirmed the same address on the 1939 Register as in the newspaper, this giving his date of birth.
As a result, a brief biography has been compiled, which also confirms because of his date of birth and occupation during WWII, his entitlement to the two medals only.
Frank passed away during the last quarter of 1979 aged 75.
The Story The medals awarded to Frank Bates were acquired from E-Bay on a buy it now offer on 20th May 2023.
No hesitation was involved due to the scarcity of four clasped Special Constabulary Medals, especially if confirmed, which by virtue of a newspaper cutting and poor quality photograph of the recipient from a local newspaper receiving his fourth clasp, was.
Further checking on the Newspaper Archives revealed the full transcript of the award of Frank’s 1962 clasp, giving his age, address and some basic biographical detail. This enabled a specific search on Ancestry.UK which confirmed the same address on the 1939 Register as in the newspaper, this giving his date of birth.
As a result, a brief biography has been compiled, which also confirms because of his date of birth and occupation during WWII, his entitlement to the two medals only.
Heywood Adveriser 28th June 1963.
Frank BATES is one of five in this collection with the scarce four clasped Special Constabulary Medal
Medal Details
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Special Constabulary Long Service Medal: FRANK BATES
Page last updated 31 May 23
50
