Albert Charles Skeates

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 19/01/2012 16:49:02

I found this query from Ben Skeates in Australia on the internet:

Ben Skeates wrote:Can anyone suggest where I could find information re: my brother, Albert Charles Skeates, the Royal Engineers and the Commandos. My brother who operated from St Margaret's Bay, & Dover WWII, was killed in action in 1940, he was in either the 5th or 6th Commando unit.
Regards
Ben Skeates
Queensland

I have written to Ben and explained that, thanks to a recent post from Phil Eyden, we know that No5 were in St Margaret's Bay in 1940 [their HQ was at St Margaret's at Cliffe].

http://www.commandoveterans.org/cdoForum/posts/list/3041.page

I have also directed him to the 6 Commando website and have included the CWGC record for Albert - no mention of the Commandos there, although that is not uncommon.

http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2825823

but any other information would be very much appreciated.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 29/12/2011 12:39:17

Once again, thanks to the fantastic research of Julie W, we are able to confirm that 1871381 Cpl Albert Skeates, Royal Engineers was serving in No 5 Commando at Dover when he was killed in action on the 1 Nov 1940.

I shall be contacting the CWGC to get his records amended to reflect that he was a Commando.

Nick

I've just received this email from CWGC

CWGC wrote:
Dear Mr Collins,
On this occasion we are willing to amend our records for the casualty below, based on the piece of contemporary evidence provided from the National Archives.

I will now pass this case to our records department for them to add No 5 Commando to our record for L/Cpl A Skeates.

Casualty Details

Rank: Lance Corporal

Surname: SKEATES

Forenames: ALBERT CHARLES

Service No: 1871381

Regiment: Royal Engineers

Date of Death: 1 November 1940

Commemoration

DOVER (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY, Kent, United Kingdom, Row A. Joint grave 12.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Yours sincerely

Julie Williams (Mrs)

thanks to our Julie W for providing thenecessary evidence for the CWGC to accept my request to amend these records.

We Will Remember Them.

Nick

I have attempted to contact Ben Skeates (see my original post) on a couple of occasions, but in vain.
The request I found from Ben on the internet was dated June 2000, so I fear I may have been too late in finding out the information about Cpl Skeates as far as Ben is concerned.

I will persevere though.

Nick

I traced ex-Submariner, Petty Officer (Tel) Ben Skeates from Australia back to Blighty, but have found out that Ben 'Crossed the Bar' Friday 16th July 2010 at the age of 91.

May he Rest in Peace.

Nick

I live about five minutes walk from St. James's Cemetery so I'll see if I can find the grave and obtain a photo for you this week.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 24/01/2012 11:57:18

Phil,
That would be fantastic.
It's interesting to note that it is a 'joint grave' - I don't think the Skeates family were from Dover, although I may be mistaken, so I don't understand why it should be a joint grave...
hopefully a photo will reveal more.

Thanks so much again,

Nick

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 27/02/2016 11:34:23

This afternoon I found the grave in St. James's Cemetery at Dover, apologies for the poor light, but the sun was below the horizon and it was starting to get dark.

By anomalocaris at 2012-01-27

If it is hard to make out, the inscription is on the grave on the left and reads: 1871381 L.Cpl. A.C. Skeates Royal Engineers 1st November 1940. The second grave, that of C.E. Simpson of the Royal Artillery seems unconnected.

I've been trying to gather information on the early war Dover Garrisons and have a couple of the War Diaries of the period of the local infantry regiments, so decided to have a look at the War Diary entries of the Dover HQ (at the Castle) and Training Battalion of the Irish Guards (at the Western Heights, opposite) to see if they contain any clues.

The 31st October Dover HQ diary records that "...between 19:20 and 20:05 hrs when there were six explosions in St. Margaret's Bay. it was impossible to confirm the cause of these although they may have been shells."

The 1st November Irish Guards entry notes: "There was some very considerable shelling activity during which some 220 shells were fired mostly at trawlers, but a lot fell in the town. One shell fell just below the casemates of the Castle, and gave the Garrison Commander's Staff a bit of a fright. There was also some dive-bombing on some trawlers, one of which was sunk - in fact it was quite like old times again."

The Irish Guards have no other record of aerial activity on that day. It therefore seems highly likely that Albert Skeates was a victim of the Cross-Channel shelling from the long range guns in the Pas-de-Calais.

Finger's crossed and I'll soon have a copy of 5 Commando's War Diary of the period so it may shed some light.

Phil,
Once again I am indebted to you for your generosity in providing us (The CVA) with photos and information even though your primary interest is not in The Commandos - although obviously they are connected to Dover and so our interests have now become inter-twined.

The photo of L/Cpl Skeates grave is fantastic and will be added to the Gallery in due course.

Many thanks & best wishes,
Nick

Albert is also remembered on the war memorial inside Morestead Parish Church, on the outskirts of Winchester:

http://southernlife.org.uk/morestea.htm

Pete,

Have you been doing some detective work?

I'd missed that - well spotted and thanks.

Nick

I still don't really understand why Albert Skeates is in a joint grave with Gunner Simpson though - especially as they died 27 days apart.

Nick

Pleasure, and thank you!

Very many of the graves in that plot are doubled-up. In fact there are more double graves than single ones. I expect it must just have been the standard burial manner there rather than having any particular significance, but I could be wrong...

Great find Pete!

I've obtained the war diary for No.5 during the period stationed at St. Margaret's Bay - interesting reading.

I can confirm that Lance Corporal Skeates of No.6 Troop was killed late afternoon on the 1st November 40 by shrapnel from an exploding shell whilst walking along the Dover-Deal road somewhere between a crossroads and a junction. (Refs are provided). He was given a military funeral at St. James' Cemetery in Dover at 15:00 on the 4th November.

thanks Phil,
That information has been added to the photo of L/Cpl Skeates' memorial headstone.

Nick