Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Spelling of surname could be COATES. Both COATS and COATES appear in service record.

William Harold Coats was born on 6 July 1895, son of Annie Jane Coats and John Thomas Coats. He grew to be 5’4 and had a chest width of 33.35 inches. He had blue eyes, brown hair, and a medium complexion. William had five siblings, one brother (John Charles Coats) and four sisters, (Violet Maude, Florence, Flora Ruby Victoria May, and Ethel Grace). Before he enlisted, he worked as a brick layer, repairing walls, building structures, cutting stone, construction work. (NAA:B2455)

At 20, he began his journey to serve his country with his mother’s permission. Once all his health checks had come back as fit to serve, he embarked on the ship of ‘MALWA’, officially setting sail 2nd December 1915. The MALWA ship he travelled abroad on was one of ten ‘M Class’ or military classified passenger ships, most specifically the seventh to depart, taking the newly enlisted troops to the front-line battle fields of whichever Battalion they were assigned. (C, Allan. “P&O M Class Ships|Malwa (1908)).

William enlisted 2nd August 1915e. The first Battalion he was initially assigned was the 12th Battalion. He embarked from Australia 2nd December 1915. He was transferred and taken on strength to the 52nd Battalion on 3 March 1916 in Zeitoun. Several days later, on 9 March 1916, he was admitted to 13th Field Ambulance. Once in the hospital at Tel-el-Kebir, he was diagnosed with Otitis Media, an ear infection which if left untreated could later spread, causing permanent hearing loss.

According to records, he was discharged from the hospital merely a day later. William was discharged from hospital on 10 March 1916, and returned to the 52nd Battalion in Serapeum. Soon, he disobeyed an order given to him from an NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) on 14th April 1916. Consequently, this resulted in him being deprived of four days’ worth of pay whilst on service. He was transferred and taken on strength with 32 Battalion 15th April 1916.

Nearly a month after he was assigned to fight in the 32nd Battalion, on 5 May 1916 he was again taken to hospital. This time he was diagnosed with dysentery and with Otitis Media on 12 May 1916.  He rejoined his Battalion 23rd May 1916 but soon after on thge 29th May was transferred to the 8th training Battalion. 

Unfortunately, he continued getting otitis media, but this time, once he was transferred back to hospital. They officially diagnosed him with deafness, leading to him being classified as unfit to meet the standards of health and unable to continue his service.

On 10 July 1916, William Harold Coats took one last glimpse back at the environment he had lived over a year in, before stepping on to the ship of Clan McGillivray, sailing back home to dock in Melbourne; finally able to reunite with his loved ones. (Clan MacGillivray (1).” Www.bandcstaffregister.com, GQLC, 2019)

A few years after William had settled back into Australia and got his old life back as best he could, he met and married Sarah Hassel, who was according to some records was born in 1888. Together they had one son named William John H Coates and they all continued to live in SA. 

On 30 July 1937, William Coats would take his own life. He was only 42, and he had evidently suffered through his time serving, witnessing the horrific events that came with war; seeing comrades fall around him. It can be inferred due to many accounts of past soldiers having PTSD, or recurring nightmares about the war, that William could have experienced some of the same symptoms, perhaps even guilt at being medically discharged early. Even though he had tried his best to put the war behind him, have a loving family and support them, it must have proved too difficult for him to continue in this world any longer. He was buried in Light Oval, Row 1AS Aspect W site number 24 in the West TCE Cemetery.

Bibliography

“Abbreviations Used in First World War and Second World War Service Records | Naa.gov.au.” Naa.gov.au, NAA, 2024, www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/defence-and-war-service-records/researching-war-service/abbreviations-used-first-world-war-and-second-world-war-service-records.

Burke, Arthur . “Anzac Spirit | Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, Australian War Memorial, 31 Oct. 2023, www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/anzac/spirit#:~:text=He%20described%20the%20spirit%20of. Accessed 6 June 2024.

C, Allan. “P&O M Class Ships|Malwa (1908).” Www.benjidog.co.uk, Benjidog Historical Research Resources, 2021, www.benjidog.co.uk/MClass/Malwa1908.php#:~:text=Malwa%20was%20the%20seventh%20of. Accessed 4 June 2024.

“Clan MacGillivray (1).” Www.bandcstaffregister.com, GQLC, 2019, www.bandcstaffregister.com/page503.html. Accessed 4 June 2024.

“Coats William Harold : SERN 3700 : POB Brompton SA : POE Keswick SA : NOK M Coats Annie.” National Archives of Australia, NAA, 1914, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3263513. Accessed 4 June 2024.

Crescent, Treloar. “12th Australian Infantry Battalion.” Awm.gov.au, AWM, 2016, www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51452. Accessed 2024.

Harris, Herschel . “1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station - Our Contribution.” Birtwistlewiki.com.au, Australian Casualty Clearing Station, 26 Aug. 2023, birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/1st_Australian_Casualty_Clearing_Station. Accessed 4 June 2024.

Kearney, Robert . “12th Infantry Battalion.” Vwma.org.au, Australian War Memorial, 21 May 2020, vwma.org.au/explore/units/74#:~:text=The%2012th%20was%20heavily%20invovled. Accessed 4 June 2024.

“Mystery Ship.” The Great War (1914-1918) Forum, 14 Mar. 2019, www.greatwarforum.org/topic/270711-mystery-ship/. Accessed 4 June 2024.

Publications, Peacock. “32nd Australian Infantry Battalion.” Www.awm.gov.au, Australian War Memorial, 2006, www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51472#:~:text=The%2032nd%20Battalion%20was%20raised. Accessed 4 June 2024.

scheme =AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Defence; address=Russell Offices. “Title | British War Medal 1914-20 | ADF Members & Families | DPG | Honours & Awards | Department of Defence.” Www.defence.gov.au, Australian Government Defense , 2020, www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/medals/imperial-awards/world-war-one/british-war-medal-1914-20. Accessed 4 June 2024.