Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Rowland Bates a Joiner, born 1848 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and his wife Matilda, born 1848 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. Harvey was a Joiner and was born in 1883 in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, his siblings were Rowland, born 1880, Daisy, born 1885 and Lily, born 1888, all his siblings were born in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at 149, Willow Street, Leicester, this being situated within the Ecclesiastical Parish of St. Matthew. In April 1911 Harvey was employed as a Joiner and had been married for 8 years to Kate, born 1880 in Leicester, their children were Harvey, born 1906, Albert, born 1908 and Leonard, born 1910, all the children were born in Leicester, the family home was at 147, Curzon Street, Leicester. His widow later remarried becoming Kate Finlow (formerly Bates) of 34, Porter Street, Leicester.