Thomas Coats
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Date of Death: 30/09/1918
Age: 22
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders (5th Bn.)
Cemetery: Dadizeele New British Cemetery
Additional information: Son of Robert and Henrietta Coats of 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Coats, 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Father Robert Coates Esq. Brothers Robert A Coates Esq. and Andrew A Coates Esq.
De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour Information: Eldest son of Robert Coats of 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen, by his wife Henrietta, dau. of Robert Aird of Wishaw; b 5 October 1896 in Rutherglen; educ. Burgh Public School; was employed as a clerk; joined the Glasgow Highlanders 1 Sept. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from April 1916; was wounded at the Battle of the Somme the following July and invalided home; returned to France in Dec. and was wounded at Arras 20 May 1917 being again invalided home; went back to France in Sept., but was recalled in Nov. to train for a commission; was gazette 2nd Lieut. Cameron Highlanders 26 June 1918; joined his unit in France the following month and was killed in action at Slip Wood, north-west of Ledeghem and east of Ypres 20 Sept. of the same year. Buried where he fell. Col. Inglis wrote: “Your son, although he had only just joined the battalion, had succeeded in making himself most popular with all ranks in the battalion and had proved himself a most efficient officer.
1901 census information:
Address: 4 Eastfield View, Rutherglen.
Father: Robert (29) railway carter, born about 1872 in Cambusnethan.
Mother: Henrietta (35) born about 1866 in Wishaw.
Self: Thomas (4) born about 1897 in Rutherglen.
Brother: Robert A (3) born about 1898 in Rutherglen.
Brother: Andrew A (1) born about 1900 in Rutherglen.
1911 census information:
The family are living in Rutherglen. The family comprises Robert 39, Henrietta 45, Thomas 14, Robert 13, Andrew 11 and Agnes 5.
Newspaper transcript – Rutherglen Officer Killed. Mr and Mrs Robert coats who reside at 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen, have received intimation that their son, Second Lieutenant Thomas Coats, Cameron Highlanders, was killed on September 30 He joined the Glasgow Highlanders in September, 1915, and was wounded twice. Last June he received his commission, Lieutenant Coasts, who was 22 years of age, prior to the war was in the employment of Mr L. V. G. Robertson, stockbroker, St Vincent Street, Glasgow.
Newspaper transcript – Sec. Lieut. Thomas coats (killed on September30), was a son of Mr Robert Coats, 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen. He joined the Glasgow Highlanders in September 1915, and was wounded in July 1916 and in May 1917. He received his commission in the Cameron Highlanders last June. Sec. Lieut. Coats was 22 years of age.
Newspaper transcript – Second Lieutenant Coats, Camerons. Second Lieutenant Thomas Coats, who was killed in action on September 30, aged 22 years, was a son of Mr and Mrs. Robert Coats, 65 Cambuslang Road, Rutherglen. In 1915 he felt it his duty to enlist, and joined the Glasgow Highlanders. Soon on active service, he participated in some heavy fighting, and was wounded at the first Battle of the Somme in 1916, and at Arras in 1917. On being commissioned in June of the year Mr. Coats was gazetted to the Cameron Highlanders, and had only been in France as an officer since July when he met his death. In civil life Lieutenant Coats was employed with Messrs. L. and V. G. Robertson, stockbrokers, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
Also commemorated on the memorial at Wardlawhill Parish Church, Rutherglen.