the trenches, and when all other officers had been killed or wounded and ammunition exhausted, he led his 19 survivors against the enemy in a charge. He was captured by the Germans and interned in Targau prisoner of war camp. After repeated attempts, he escaped a month later on 19 September 1914, but was quickly apprehended by local factory workers who suspected his appearance, and cut his own throat to avoid recapture and possible execution as a spy. He died on 20 September 1914. Four other VCs were won that day at Le Cateau, including one by Lance Corporal Frederick William Holmes, who wrote of Yate: Major Yate was a thorough gentleman and a great favourite with us all. He had had a lot of experience in the Far East and at home, and I am sure that if he had lived he would have become a general. He was always in front, and his constant cry was "Follow me!" Yate is buried in grave II. G. 8. at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Berlin South-Western Cemetery in Stahnsdorf, near Potsdam, Germany. He is also listed on the parish war memorial, now on The Green, at Madeley, and within St Michael's Church, Madeley. The medal His Victoria Cross is displayed at the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Museum in the Doncaster Museum, England. References Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999) The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997) VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994) 1872 births 1914 deaths Burials in Germany People from Madeley, Shropshire Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry officers British Army personnel of the Second Boer War British Army personnel of World War I British military personnel killed in World War I British military personnel who committed suicide British World War I prisoners of war British military personnel of the Tirah campaign World War I prisoners of war held by Germany People of the Russo-Japanese War British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross Military personnel from Shropshire Suicides by sharp instrument in Germany