Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Ross Battye was born on the 3rd of September 1895 at West Hindmarsh, the son of Harry Taylor Battye (b 9 July 1859, Robe, SA) and Jessie Dow Taylor.

Ross’s siblings were Charles Ezra (b 1882), George Harry (b 1884), Leslie Arthur (b 1886, d 1886) and Elsie May (b 1887). The family name was sometimes incorrectly recorded as Batty in South Australian Birth, Death and Marriages records.

Harry Taylor Battye was for many years associated with the wool department of Strachan, Cheadle & Co and when the company was taken over by Dalgety & Co Ltd, his services were retained and he was employed by Dalgety for about 25 years until he retired in about 1928.

Schooling

In January 1909, Ross passed the Education Department Monitors’ Examination. At that time he was at school at Hindmarsh. He went on to pass his Primary Examinations in Geography, English History, Latin and Drawing in October 1909 at the Hindmarsh School.

Ross passed the Civil Service examinations for a Junior Clerkship in October 1910. He attended Muirden College in 1910 and came seventh in the General Honours list for candidate Under 17 years of age in the Junior Commercial Examinations of December 1910.

In March 1911, Ross was equal sixth in the Railway Examining Board examinations however he did not take up a position in the Railways but continued to study at Muirden College in 1911. In October 1911 he won the College Championship and the High Jump at the Muidren College Picnic and Sports.

Ross commenced studying at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, in 1912 and in July 1912 he played football in the Inter-collegiate match against St Peter’s College, playing in the backlines.

In December 1912, Ross was won the Commercial Sixth Form prize and he passed Mechanical Drawing – Elementary at the School of Mines

Ross passed the Senior Commercial Examinations in arithmetic, bookkeeping, geography, history, English literature and algebra and gained the senior commercial certificate.

University

Ross commenced studying toward the Diploma in Commerce at Adelaide University in 1913. He passed commercial law and business practice that year. He passed Commercial Geography in December 1914.

Ross registered a 4½ James motor cycle in December 1915. He was living at Hindmarsh Place, Hindmarsh.

Sport

Football

Ross played A Grade football for Adelaide University in the Amateur League in 1915.

He was selected as an emergency for the 13th and 16th Platoons in a match against the 14th and 15th Platoons in a Senior Cadets match at East End Park in August 1915.

Tennis

In the 1914/15 and 15/16 seasons, Ross played Lawn Tennis for the Hindmarsh Baptist Church in the United Church Association. At the opening of the tennis courts in September 1914 he was listed as captain of the club.

Athletics
In January 1915 Ross competed at the Semaphore Sports in the Novice Handicap race.

World War I

Ross enlisted on the 29th November 1915 when he was a 20 year old bookkeeper. He had been a Senior Cadet for three years and in the Citizens Forces for 1½ years. He was 5’6”, 120lbs with a medium complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.

He served in the Army Pay Corps in Adelaide until the 20th August 1916. He was in the Home Service due to his studies and his chest measurements (31-32½“).


On the 21st August 1916 Ross enlisted in the AIF. He was now 20 years and 11 months old and a clerk, 5’6½” and 125lbs. His chest now measured 31-34”. He received his father’s consent to enlist.

Ross embarked on the ‘Commonwealth’, from Sydney on the 19th September 1916 and disembarked on the 14th November 1916 at Plymouth, UK.

He joined the 13th Training Bn. On the 17th December 1916 he was transferred from the 50th Battalion to the 27th Battalion. On the 28th December 1916, he departed for France on the S/S "Princess Victoria” via Folkestone.

He served in France and Belgium. In January 1918 Ross was on leave in England and in March 1918 he had a week of leave in Paris. In May 1918 Ross was ill and in the Base Hospital at Rouen. On 19th January 1919 he was attached to the Australian Army Pay Corps in the UK (ex France).

On 4th March 1919 Ross was prompted to T/Sergeant and commenced Return to Australia (RTA) duty on the ‘Nevasa’. He disembarked on the 18th April 1919.

On the 3rd June 1919 he was discharged at the 4th Military District (Adelaide). He had served abroad for 2 years and 217 days.

Ross’s brother, George Harry Battye, enlisted on the 1st November 1915 and served in the 11th Field Ambulance (Service Number 12589).

Post WWI University

Ross returned to his studies at Adelaide University after WWI. He passed Accountancy in December 1919 and Economics and Commercial History in December 1920. Ross gained his Diploma in Commerce in 1920 and his brother George gained the same Diploma in 1924.

Career and Family Life

Ross recommenced playing tennis for Hindmarsh Baptist in the United Church Association.

On the 30th November 1920, Ross Battye married Hazel Ethel Nicholls at Holder Memorial Church, Mile End. The couple had a son, Gavin Ross Battye, who was born on the 23rd November 1922 at Memorial Hospital, North Adelaide.

Ross became an accountant and he was the secretary of many companies, and by 1929 he frequently acted as a liquidator and auditor. Ross resided at 8 Howard Street, Underdale and practiced at Currie Street, Adelaide.

In February 1929, Ross’s eldest brother, Charles Ezra Battye, died suddenly, aged 46, leaving a widow and two daughters.

On the 22nd July 1930, Ross and Hazel had a second son. A notice of the birth of this child appeared in the ‘Chronicle’ on the 31st July 1930. He was born at ‘Quambi”, a private hospital on South Terrace, Adelaide. Sadly, it is likely that
this son died at a very young age as his brother, Gavin, is later referred to as the only son of Mr & Mrs Ross Battye.

In March 1931, Ross’s parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

In 1935, Ross was practicing at Grenfell Street, Adelaide.

On the 27th December 1935 Ross’s father, Harry Taylor Battye, died aged 77 years at his home at 74 Hughes Street, Mile End.

By 1936, Ross was secretary of the United Church Tennis Association and in 1937 he was predicting a record season for the association. He was secretary again in 1937 and 1938.

In 1936, Ross and Hazel’s son, Gavin passed his Intermediate Examinations. He was a student at Adelaide High School. Gavin then attended Prince Alfred College from 1937 to 1939. He represented PAC at tennis.

In October 1938 Ross and Hazel won the Family Mixed Doubles Handicap at the East Torrens annual tennis tournament and Gavin won the Boys’ Open Singles Handicap.

World War II

In 1940, Gavin commenced studying Engineering at Adelaide University. In April 1941, Ross and Gavin won the Men’s doubles handicap at the Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis tournament.

Ross enlisted for Home Service on the 1st August 1940 and served until 15th May 1944. He was a Lieutenant in the 25/33rd Garrison Battalion and served at No 14A Compound, 14th Australian Prisoner of War and Internment Camp Loveday Group.

In early April 1943, Gavin became engaged to Mary Julia Paech, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Len Paech, of Underdale and the couple married on the 23rd October 1943. Gavin Ross Battye enlisted for service in WWII (SN SX19313) on the 28th April 1943 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant. He was discharged on the 22nd January 1946.

Ross’s mother, Jessie Dow Battye, passed away in August 1944; she was buried at the Hindmarsh Cemetery.

Ross and Hazel celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary in November 1945.

Post WWII

After WWII, Gavin returned to Adelaide University and in 1949 he graduated as a Bachelor of Engineering. He represented Adelaide University at Intervarsity Tennis in 1947 and 1948. He was awarded a Blue for Tennis in 1947 and was the Intervarsity Tennis captain in 1948.

Gavin and Mary had a son, Peter Leonard Battye on the 22nd February 1947.

Gavin became the assistant design engineer for the South Australian, Engineering and Water Supply Department in May 1951 and was one of the officials, selected in October 1951, to travel to the USA to gain experience to be used in the construction of the new South Para Reservoir.

Ross was knocked down by a car in Angas Street, on the 30th June 1952 and was admitted to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with concussion.

Ross was co-author of the book ‘Auditing” by R. C. Dalton and Ross Battye which was published in Melbourne by Pitman in 1958.

Death

Ross Battye passed away on the 4th March 1961, aged 66 years. He was buried at the West Terrace Cemetery on the 6th March 1961.

Hazel Ethel Battye (B 1889), passed away on the 13th July 1992 (aged 92), she was cremated at Centennial Park Cemetery, Adelaide and her ashes are interred East Area Rose Bed E45 63. Her last abode had been at Marleston, SA.

Gavin Ross Battye passed away on the 12th April 2011, aged 87. His ashes were interred at Centennial Park Cemetery. His last abode was at Grange.

Peter Leonard Battye gained a BE from Adelaide University in 1969.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.