Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Robert Bates a Carter, born 1872 in Newbold Verdon, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Ann (Polly), born 1873 in Burbage, Leicestershire. Bob was born in 1900 in Burbage, Leicestershire his siblings were Sarah, born 1895, Doris, born 1899 and Ada, born 1901, all his siblings were born in Burbage, Leicestershire, also residing with the family was a sibling, Harry Bates Hardy, born 1892 in Burbage, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 3, Church Street, Horsepool, Burbage, Leicestershire, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of Aston Flamville, St. Peter and Burbage, St. Catherine. In April 1911 Bob was a Schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 3, Horsepool, Burbage, Leicestershire with his parents and siblings, Harry Bates Hardy, Sarah, Alice, Doris, Sam, born 1905 and Walter, born 1906, the latter two siblings were both born in Burbage, Leicestershire. The War Diary for today records. Battn hold line before MONTBREHAIN and is relieved by AUSTRALIAN Division (PIONEER BATTN).