Volunteers from Britain’s leading first aid charity are trying to trace relatives of Chas Yates, the first officer in charge of St John Ambulance in Brighton.
The Brighton unit was first registered on 24 June 1915 and a celebratory event to mark its centenary is planned for later this month.
As part of the preparations for the event, the volunteers are trying to trace local relatives of Mr Yates so they can be invited to attend.
Charles George Yates was born in Hastings in the 1860s and was the son of a watchmaker who was originally from Brighton.
His family moved back to the town and Mr Yates lived in Buckingham Street as a teenager, growing up to become a chemist or pharmacist.
At 47 years old, Mr Yates was appointed the first Officer in Charge (Superintendent) of the newly formed St John Ambulance “Brighton Town Ambulance Division” following its initial registration on the 24 June 1915.
Its volunteers played a vital role in providing casualty transportation and medical care in the First World War.
Some 233 London, Brighton and South Coast Railway ambulance trains carried 30,070 patients to Brighton.
Once here, they were transported to local hospitals, including the Royal Pavilion, which was used as an Indian military hospital.
Brighton St John Ambulance Unit was created to help those casualties arriving in the town.
The volunteers joined the Voluntary Aid Detachment, alongside Red Cross volunteers, to help transport the wounded soldiers from Brighton Station to the many hospitals in the area.
Cadet unit manager Garry George has been researching Mr Yates’s history and said: “Yates was a very well known public figure in Brighton.
According to records, he was a local councillor, being first elected to the council on 17 June 1903, representing Preston Park ward.
“Most notably he was also chairman of Brighton Tramways Committee, as well as the Library, Health and Aquarium Committees, Brighton Insurance Committee, and President of the Brighton and Hove District of the Pharmaceutical Society.
“We’re hopeful members of his family still live in the area, and we’d be delighted if they could join us to celebrate the unit’s history later this month.”
The event will be held at St John Ambulance, in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, on Saturday 27 June
Mr George said: “Chas Yates played such an important role in the early days of the unit and will have undoubtedly helped save lives during the war.”
Mr Yates passed away on 30 July 1931, aged 64, at his home in Upper Hamilton Road, Brighton.
A huge service was held at St Peter’s Church. The local paper reported that the police had to provide supervision at the funeral owing to the huge numbers of public attending to pay their respects.
Trams on the day were flying black burgees at half mast in respect of the loss of their chairman.
Anyone with connections to Chas Yates is asked to call Garry George on 07901 831050 or email garry.george@sja.org.uk.
Charles George YATES born April 1867 Hastings was my 2nd cousin. I have his ancestry and a scrap book he kept of his activities in the Brighton the area. He was a Councillor (Independent) for the Preston Park ward. A Pharmacist (M.P.S.) etc…..
Although he married later in life, he did not have any descendants. There was a significant funeral event after his death on 30 July 1931. His ancestors go back to Bromley St Leonard London. Further back in Shadwell London.