[2] He was promoted to captain on 26 July 1899, and with his battalion was transferred to South Africa following the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October that year.

[1] After the war ended in June 1902, he was briefly a staff officer for requisitions from September 1902,[4] then transferred with the battalion to Malta, leaving Point Natal on the SS Staffordshire in October.

Yate was 42 years old, and a major in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, during the First World War when the following deed took place during the battle of Le Cateau for which he was awarded the VC.

On 26 August 1914 at Le Cateau, France, Major Yate commanded one of the two companies that remained to the end in 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.

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.

[11] On 17 September 1903 he married at St George's Church, Hanover Square, London,[8] Florence Helena Brigg, from Greenhead Hall, Yorkshire.