On 28 October, while A/Sgt Yeates was checking a route, his section was fired upon from a pillbox. In the ensuing checking, the section put the pillbox out of action. The section continued on into the village and came under fire one more time. Again, Sgt Yeats led a brazen assault firing a Bren gun from the hip. After these two actions, they handed 12 prisoners over to the Canadian Scottish Regiment. Sgt Yeats received a Distinguished Conduct Medal.
An entry in their war diary of 31 October summarises that of the original war establishment of 249 all ranks who landed on D-Day, 123 had been struck off strength for all reasons - killed, wounded, missing, sickness and injuries. Only three of their original officers were still with the unit – two wounded and two promoted and transferred. Morale was however still relatively high.
Albert Edward Yeates was born and raised in Winnipeg MB. He died on 2 February 2008 at the Deer Lodge Centre at the age of 89 years.
At Nieuwvliet on the 28 October 1944, Lance-Sergeant Albert Edward Yeates was in charge of a section detailed to clear the road of mines behind the advancing infantry. His instructions were to clear the road south from the coast towards Nieuwvliet. Approaching a cross-road and small village, he and his section came under machine gun fire from a hitherto unknown pillbox about 50 yards ahead. Ordering one sub-section to give him covering fire, Lance-Sergeant Albert Edward Yeates at the head of the remaining sub-section and firing the Bren gun from the hip, charged forward onto the enemy position, which was cleared and three prisoners were taken. Noticing that fire was still coming from a large pillbox in the centre of the village, Lance-Sergeant Albert Edward Yeates collected his sub-section and again led them forward to clear and capture the position, this time taking nine prisoners. He then reorganized his section and held the position under intense concentration of mortar and shell fire until the arrival of a company of the First Canadian Scottish Regiment made possible the capture of the remainder of the village. The high courage and exceptional qualities of leadership shown by this Non-Commissioned Officer under the most exacting circumstances were an inspiration to his men and made possible the capture of these two vital pillboxes.