{{Short description|English Victoria Cross recipient (1892-1917)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military person |name=George Edward Cates |birth_date=9 May 1892 |death_date={{death date and age|1917|3|9|1892|5|9|df=y}} |birth_place=Wimbledon, London, England |death_place=Bouchavesnes, France |burial_place=Hem Farm Military Cemetery, Hem-Monacu |image=George Edward Cates, VC.jpg |image_size=240 |caption= |nickname= |allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}} |service_years=1914–1917 |service_number= |rank=Second Lieutenant |branch={{army|United Kingdom}} |commands= |unit=Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) |battles=World War I |awards=Victoria Cross |other_work= }} Second Lieutenant '''George Edward Cates''' VC (9 May 1892 – 9 March 1917) was a British Army officer and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|pp=18–20}}
Cates was born on 9 May 1892 to George and Alice Ann Cates, of Wimbledon, London, the seventh of nine children.<ref name=cwgc>[http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/309855 Cates, George Edward], Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref> After attending Rutlish School in Merton, he worked as a clerk for an insurance company.{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|p=19}}
In December 1914, four months after the outbreak of the First World War, he joined the 28th London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles), and went to France in August 1915. He was later commissioned second lieutenant.<ref name=VConline/>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|p=19}}
He was a 24 years old second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own), British Army, during the First World War, and was awarded the VC for his actions on 8 March 1917 at Bouchavesnes, France.
==Citation== {{Blockquote|For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When engaged with some other men in deepening a captured trench this officer struck with his spade a buried bomb, which immediately started to burn. 2nd Lt. Cates, in order to save the lives of his comrades, placed his foot on the bomb, which immediately exploded. He showed the most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in performing the act which cost him his life, but saved the lives of others.|The London Gazette, dated 11 May 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30064|date=11 May 1917|page=4587|supp=y}}</ref>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|pp=18–19}}}}
Cates died of his wounds the next day.<ref name=cwgc/>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|p=19}} Two of his brothers also died during the war.<ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/743921/geoffrey-cates/ Cates, Geoffrey], Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref><ref>[https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/4021462/william-frederick-cates/ Cates, William Frederick], Commonwealth War Graves Commission</ref>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|p=20}}
His VC is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Winchester, England.<ref name=VConline>{{cite web|url=http://vconline.org.uk/george-e-cates-vc/4586168200.html|title=George Edward Cates VC: biography|website=VConline.org.uk |accessdate=29 April 2022}}</ref>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|p=20}}
Cates is commemorated on both the Wimbledon and Richardson Evans Memorial Fields war memorials, and has a plaque at the former.<ref>See Wikimedia Commons pictures at: Photo - War Memorial, Richardson Evans Memorial playing fields Photo - Memorial plaque to Second Lieutenant George Cates</ref>{{sfn|Gliddon|2012|pp=19–20}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite book|last=Gliddon|first=Gerald|title=Arras and Messines 1917|series=VCs of the First World War|year=2012|orig-year=1998|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-0-7524-6604-0}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cates, George Edward}} Category:1892 births Category:1917 deaths Category:People from Wimbledon, London Category:Rifle Brigade officers Category:Artists' Rifles soldiers Category:British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:British military personnel killed in World War I Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Category:People educated at Rutlish School Category:Military personnel from the London Borough of Merton Category:Territorial Force soldiers