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Walter Henry Bates with his wife
Martha Jane (nee Westnutt) and their children - (l-r) Dolly, Phyllis & Cecil Ernest
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Walter Bates was born in Rushden in 1885, son of Matthew and Jane. They lived at 17 Church Street, and Matthew who was born at Podington, was a general dealer. They had four children, Mary, George, Mabel and Walter. Later Matthew and Jane moved to the Chestnuts, Bedford Road.
He joined the army in 1904, for a short service - and on completion he was posted to the reserve in 1907. He met Martha Jane Westnutt, and they married in February 1908, at Wellingborough All Saints Church. Their first child Doris died in 1908 aged 6.
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Walter Henry Bates
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Martha Jane Westnutt
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When war broke out in 1914, Walter enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regiment. Whilst he was in France, he wrote a postcard to his daughter: "Dear Little Phyllis, I am sending another pretty card, hope you are better now. Do you play with my Cecil. Tell your mother I am quite well again now. Lots of love and kisses from Daddy"and also sent home some silk postcards:
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Rushden Echo, 17th December 1915
DEATH at Court Estate, Rushden, Dec. 10 Florence Bates, aged 3 weeks.
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Matthew Bates died 1931
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Walter died May 1960
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Jane died 1938
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Martha died April 1975
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