Pte 21845 Norman Bateman

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 3rd July 1916
• Commemorated at: Dive Copse B C, Sailly-le-sec
  Panel Ref: II.C.7

21845 Pte Norman BATEMAN, 19^th Battn, DOW 03.07.1916.

Norman Bateman was born on 11th November 1893 to Henry Ernest Wilkes Bateman and Mary Ellen Hughes. They were not married at the time of Norman's birth in 1893. Norman was their only child. At that time the family lived at 53 Bartlett Street, Liverpool. They married in 1898 at St Luke's Church, Crosby.  

His mother appears on the 1881 census in Anglesey as Mary E. Hughes born in Llanynghenedl, Anglesey, the 8 year old daughter of Owen and Margaret Hughes.

The 1901 Census shows the family still living at 53 Bartlett Street, Wavertree. Norman's father, Henry, is not shown on the Census. Further research shows that Henry was in fact a merchant seaman and was no doubt at sea at the time. Norman was 7 years of age when the Census was taken he was living with his mother, as head of the household. She is 28 years of age, married and born in Llanynghenedl, Anglesey. 

The family, including Norman, worshipped at Webster Road Welsh Chapel, off Smithdown Road.

Crew records  show that around 1904 on the Booth Line, vessel the SS "Ambrose" his father Henry Bateman,  is aged 29, and an assistant steward, whose address is given as 20 Jameson Street.

By the time of the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 14 Underley Street in the same area and although Henry is shown in the Census returns he is said to be a “mariner at sea” for Ocean Steamship Company, he is stated to be 36 years of age and was born in Liverpool. Norman is now 17 years old and is shown as being employed as a junior clerk with Fowler Brothers Ltd, provision merchants. His mother is 37 years of age and advises that she has been married for 18 years and that they have had just the one child. Also present is a 3 year old, Maggie Hughes, described as a cousin. 

Norman enlisted in Liverpool on 19th December 1914, joining the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21845. He gave his aged as 21 years and 3 months, and gives his occupation as grocer (with the Co-operative Society). He is described as being 5' 5" tall, weight 129lbs with a good physical development. His religion is stated as Wesleyan.

He was billeted at the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain

He was in trouble during his training, being admonished for being dirty on guard parade and given 4 days Confined to Barracks for having dirty bed, boots, rifle and equipment in October 1915 following a Commanding Officer’s inspection.

Norman was amongst the Pals who embarked for France with the BEF on 07^th November 1915.

On 01^st July 1916 he took part on the tragic opening day of the Battle of the Somme. Norman’s service papers show that his Battalion Commanding Officer reported him on 4^th July 1916 as having been killed in action on that opening day but this was subsequently amended to show that he was in fact wounded by shellfire that day but died of his wounds in 96 Field Ambulance on 03^rd July 1916.

The Battalion Diary of the 19th Battalion: 

Zero Hour 7.30am First day of the attack. The Battalion used up entirely in “carrying parties” for the Brigade. Battalion H.Q. in the “Chateau”, Maricourt. Total casualties 01 -04/07/1916: 1 officer wounded, 12 other ranks killed, 53 wounded and 3 missing.  

His Captain in a letter to his parents wrote-

" He died a gallant and courageous death, and also showed a great example to his comrades. Just before he was hit he dressed a comrade with his own field dressing."

Norman now rests at Dive Copse British Cemetery, Sailly-le-sec, in grave IIC 7 where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"NOBLY HE DID HIS DUTY. MAM AND DAD" 

Dive Copse Cemetery, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, is 13 miles southwest of Guillemont.  In June 1916, before the Somme offensive, the ground north of the cemetery was chosen for a concentration of field ambulances, which became the XIV Corps Main Dressing Station.  Dive Copse was a small wood close by, under the Bray-Corbie road, named after the officer commanding this station. Plots I and II were filled with burials from these medical units between July and September 1916.  Plot III contains the graves of 77 men who died in August 1918 as well as graves brought in from scattered sites and small cemeteries in the area.  The cemetery now contains 589 burials and commemorations of the First World War, 29 of which are unidentified but there are special memorials to 10 casualties known to be buried among them.  

His death was reported in the Liverpool Courier on 22nd July 1916:

"News has been received by Mr and Mrs Bateman of the death in action on July 1st, of their only son, Norman. He resided with his parents at 14 Underley Street, Liverpool. He was a member of the Webster Road, Welsh Chapel and was employed at the Toxteth Co-operative Society. He joined the Pals in December 1914."

He was commemorated on the Memorial in Webster Road Welsh Chapel and that memorial was transferred to the Welsh Church in Heathfield Road near Penny Lane.

His effects were sent to his father and included his identity disc, letters, 15 photographs, a cigarette case and writing materials in a case.

Norman qualified for three medals – the BWM, Victory Medal and 1915 Star which were sent to his father.

On 2^nd July 1920, his father completed a sworn declaration in which he stated that he and his wife were living at 21 Chesnut Grove, off High Street, Wavertree.

His father served in WW1 as a merchant seaman and the Medal Card of Bateman, Henry shows:

Place of Birth: Liverpool, Date of Birth: 1875

His address on 1st Feb 1922 was 13 Ashville Rd, Birkenhead and he was issued with the Mercantile Marine and British Victory ribbons.

On 24th Sept 1926 he was issued with Mercantile Marine and British Victory medals.

The last electoral roll for the parents was in 1922 at 21 Chesnut Grove, they then moved over to Birkenhead. 

His mother died in 1934.

His father remarried to Ellen Jane Williams in Birkenhead in 1935. They appear on 1939 register still at 13 Ashville Road, Birkenhead:

Henry Bateman b.30th October 1875, Social Club steward

Ellen J. Bateman b.25th November 1898.

Henry's dob coincides with the baptism record on 11th November 1875 of Henry Ernest Wilkes Bateman, son of Mary Elizabeth Bateman of Wavertree Vale. Ellen Jane's dob matches her death in 1989 in Glyndwr, Clwyd.

Henry and Ellen appear in the Electoral Register for 1960/61, living at No.1 Foundry Terrace, Llangefni, Anglesey.

Henry died 1961, aged 85.

We currently have no further information on Norman Bateman, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.