![]() Hughes agree, and begin to search the servants' rooms. She also asks them to do it immediately, so that none of the servants have a chance to hide the box. Anna and Bates, in front of the servants, ask Carson and Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper, to conduct a search on the servant's rooms. Despite the chance to get rid of Thomas or O'Brien, Bates puts the snuff box back in Lord Grantham's room. With Anna's help, he finds the snuff box in his room (as Anna predicted), and Anna offers to put it in Miss O'Brien's room if he wanted to. Because of this, Thomas steals a snuff box from Lord Grantham's room and hides it in Bates' room. Although when Bates makes a statement that questions Thomas' right to property, both O'Brien and Thomas know that Bates saw him steal the wine. Thomas then steals some wine and Bates has caught him red-handed, although Bates pretends not to notice the theft. Thomas, despite this, still remains smug downstairs, but he learns one thing: Bates, despite his disability, he is not to be underestimated - and he has a temper. Bates shoves Thomas to a wall, calls him a "filthy little rat," and threatens to "punch your shining teeth through the back of your head." An overconfident Thomas makes a snide remark that Mr. Thomas also ruins his attempts to kindle a romance with kitchen maid Daisy. Thomas and O'Brien still mercilessly try to sack Bates, while the most of the staff ignore him, he gains an ally in William Mason when he observes Thomas bullying the younger man who is suffering with severe homesickness. The device is an utter failure, and it causes him great pain until Mrs Hughes finds out and persuades Bates to get rid of the device, and he does it by tossing it into a pond. In order to improve the servants' opinions of him, Bates goes to a a shop that has devices that will supposedly correct his limp. Carson addresses to the servants and decrees that Bates has left "without a stain on his character." William, the second footman, offers to do some extra work for Bates if he stays, but Thomas cuts him off saying that "its not up to you." But, as Bates is leaving, Lord Grantham runs after the motor (car) and insists he stay, saying "It's not right." Due to this incident, and forced to bow to the feelings of most of the staff, and as Carson says for the good of the estate, Lord Grantham fires him, even knowing that his friend will have little luck finding another placement because of his disability. Only Anna, who helps him up, offers him any sympathy and friendship. Bates then proceeds to fall flat on his face. ![]() The first attempt to get rid of him is when O'Brien knocks his cane away when he is standing in a receiving line to greet the Duke of Crowborough. Thomas Barrow and lady's maid Sarah O'Brien strive to have him sacked from Downton Abbey. ![]() ![]() Bates finally says to the astonished and speechless staff with perfect timing, "You never asked." Bates received the Queen's South Africa Medal and the King's South Africa Medal, meaning he served at least 18 months service, and up to the end of the war in May 1902. This is where he received his leg injury. It is some time before the rest of the servants learn that Bates is an old friend, and served Lord Grantham in the Boer War as batman. Meanwhile, the footman Thomas Barrow was hoping to be promoted to valet himself and is personally offended to lose the job to "Long John Silver." The butler, Charles Carson, is upset that others will need to help him do his job. The job requires him to take the stairs frequently and bring luggage up to people's rooms. Upon arrival, the staff (except Anna Bates and to some extent William Mason) give him the cold shoulder as they do not believe he is suited to the job as Lord Grantham's valet as he uses a cane. Watson as the valet to Robert Crawley, the Earl of Grantham. Shortly after the sinking of the RMS Titanic, John Bates arrives at Downton Abbey to replace Mr.
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