VC Action: Sidney Bates VC (June 14, 1921 - August 8, 1944) was 23 years old, and a corporal in the 1st Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment, British Army during the Second World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Sidney Bates joined the Royal Norfolk Regiment in 1940 after it had returned from Delhi.
On 6 August 1944 near Sourdeval, France, the position held by a battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment was attacked by 10th SS Panzer Division. The attack started with a artillery and mortar programme on a position the enemy had pin-pointed.
Half an hour later the main attack developed and heavy machine-gun and motor fire was concentrated on the two forward companies.
Corporal Bates was commanding the left forward company which suffered a number of casualties, so he decided to move the remainder of his section to an alternative position where he could counter the enemy thrust. However, the enemy wedge grew until there were about 50 to 60 Germans, supported by machine-guns and mortars, in the area occupied by his section.
Corporal Bates seized a light machine-gun and charged, moving forward through a hail of bullets and firing his gun from the hip. He was almost immediately wounded by machine-gun fire and fell to the ground, but recovered himself quickly, go up and continued his advance towards the enemy, firing his gun as he went.
He was then wounded a second time, however undaunted, he continued towards the enemy. His constant firing continued until the enemy started to withdraw before him. At this moment he was wounded for a third time by mortar bomb splinters that was to prove mortal. He still went on firing, however, until his strength failed him, but by this time the enemy had withdrawn and the situation had been restored.
The final costs of fighting around Sourdeval for the Norfolks was 160 casualties out of 550 including Bates who died two days later.
The recommendation for the award was made by Major Cooper-Key, the commanding officer of B Company of the Ist Battalion. The recommendation was turned down initially but Cooper-Key persevered. According to Sgt George Smith the battalion had been on the march when they had come under fire.
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