W. Coape Oates

William Coape Oates was an English writer and soldier who is chiefly associated with The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War, 1914–1919. Catalog records confirm him as the author of that work, and surviving biographical material shows that he was educated at Lincoln School before going on to Harrow.

Before he became known as a military chronicler, he was also active in cricket. Local historical material from Lincoln School and Nottinghamshire cricket history identifies him as the son of William Henry Coape Oates and notes that he played at Harrow and later appeared for Nottinghamshire-related sides.

The picture that emerges is of a man whose life crossed sport, service, and remembrance. Even where the surviving record is patchy, he stands out as someone who helped preserve the history of his regiment for later generations.