Lieut. Bernard Montague Basil Bateman M.C.

  Notes:

1891 Census; Can't find.

Obit from Wendy;
BATEMAN, BERNARD MONTAGUE BASIL, M.C., Lieut, Royal Field Artillery, only s. of Lieut-Col Bernard Montague Bateman, Royal Garrison Artillery, Comdg. 11th Heavy Artillery Brigade, by his wife, Alice Maude, dau. of the late Augustus Briggs Hinkson; b Spike Island, Cork Harbour, 30 April 1891; educ. Temple Grove, East Sheen; Malvern College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.H. and R.F.A., 23 Dec 1910, and promoted Lieut 23 Dec 1913; went to France with his battery in the Expeditionary Force in Aug 1914; served through the retreat from Mons, Le Cateau and the Battles of the Marne, the Aisne, La Bassee and Ypres : was twice wounded at Chassemy (Aisne), 13 Sep., and again at Sanctuary Wood, Hooge, Belgium, 10 Jun 1915 and died of wounds at St.Thomas's Hospital, London 24 July following. Buried at Crematorium, Golder's Green. He was mentioned in Despatches by F.M.Sir (now Lord) French (London Gazette, 1 Jan 1916) and was awarded the Military Cross , "for conspicuous gallantry on 10 Jun." Unm.(arried).

According to Philip George Bateman (via Anthony) King George V pinned Bernard's MC on him in his hospital bed at St Thomas's.

London Gazette, 6 Jan 1911; The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military Academy, to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 23rd;December 1910:—Bernard Montague Basil Bateman

1911 Census (from Wendy) living (Age 19) Colchester Barracks. 2nd Lt. 113 Battery RFA.

London Gazette, 24 Aug 1915; Military Cross; Lieutenant Bernard Montague Basil Bateman, 108th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. For conspicuous gallantry on 10th June, 1915, near Ypres, when he was dangerously wounded in endeavouring to restore telephone communication under very severe fire. Lieutenant Bateman has been noted for consistent gallantry, and was wounded on two previous occasions.

Commonwealth War Graves website;
Bateman, Bernard Montague Basil, Lt., d 24 Jul 1915, unknown age, Royal Field Artillery, Golders Green Crematorium. The link then says he was 133rd Bty. 21st Bde. and was awarded the Military Cross.

Probate Index; Bernard Montague Basil Bateman died 24 July 1915 St Thomas' Hospital Effects: £220 11 8

National Archives website;
Medal Card of Bateman Bernard Montague Basil , Royal Field Artillery Lieutenant
Date range: 1914 - 1920.

From 'Philip Bateman (1896 - 1965), his families and circle'
"At one stage he found himself encamped with his kite balloon and crew in a wood close to his uncle's headquarters in Vlamertinghe Chateau near Ypres. Brigadier General Bateman CMG, Officier de le Legion d'Honneur, commanded the heavy artillery of VIII Corps, covering the Ypres Salient and Philip was pleased to be spotting for his Uncle Bernard. Philip's cousin Bernard, a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery and the General's only child, died of wounds after winning the Military Cross at Sanctuary Wood, near Ypres. "

From Anthony Bateman;
A check of the Royal Aero Club's certificated aeroplane, airship & balloon pilots in 1916 show that my father's cousin Bernard held the Club's Aviator's Cert no. 602 as a 2ndLt RFA. He must have been trained as a pilot by the Army pre-war but decided not to transfer to the RFC.
and
The RAeSoc records of aviation certs are now online at Ancestry. He held cert no 602 and was on a course with other military pilots, qualifying at the Bristol School, Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, in a Bristol biplane, 26 Aug 1913. This was one of the earliest RFC courses. Looks like he elected to stay with the RFA despite qualifying. The page has good pics of him and 3 of his course members - an RN petty officer, an Army sergeant and a Royal Marine Lt.