Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Gately was born 20 November 1893, son of Hugh Gately and his wife Ann, nee Kelly. He was one of six children born to the couple, the others being May (1887) Michael (1889) Ann (1890) Bernard (1892) and Ellen (1897).  Sadly, the family lost mother Ann in 1898, when John was only 5 years old.

A housekeeper was employed to assist with the children and the Catholic nuns took Ellen, only 8 months at the time, until the other children begged for her to come home.  Unfortunately, even this arrangement was short lived.

The children were orphaned 18 months later when their father died at the St Vincent's Cottage Hospital, as a result of phthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis) and a cerebral growth, in 1900.

It is unclear how the children survived or who cared for them, until they reached adulthood.  Records have been located that place brother, Bernard, in the care of a Mrs D. McAlister, of Goulburn.  Despite the fact that the children appear to have been separated, they seem to have retained a close bond. Both John and brother Bernard gave their sister Ann as their next of kin when they enlisted in the army.

With the advent of World War 1, John followed his brother Bernard (4292), who had enlisted at Goulburn on 30th August, 1915. John too, enlisted at theGoulburn recruiting Depot on 15 September, 1915 and joined his brother in training at the Goulburn Depot Camp.  The Recruiting Office gave John's town location as Gunning.  Both brothers were enlisted as members of 2nd Battalion, 13th Reinforcements.

The brothers embarked from Sydney, NSW on board HMAT A6 Aeneas, on 20th December, 1915.  Both brothers were transferred to 54th Battalion at Zeitoun, Egypt, 1916 and went into final training at the large camp at Tel-El-Kabir.

On 19th June 1916, they embarked on board HT Caledonian at Alexandria, for France, disembarking at Marseilles on 29th June.

Brother, Bernard, was killed in action on 15th May, 1917 when a shell collapsed a trench at Sunken Road, Bullencourt.  C Coy were decimated on this day, and the German Forces took control of this trench.  It is unclear whether John was present when his brother's death occurred.

Sister, Ann, received a cable advising her of the death of her brother John, claiming that he had been also killed on 15th May, 1917.  Subsequently John was located in hospital and both his service record and the report to his family, were amended.

John was hospitalised in the UK, diagnosed with neurasthenia.  He never recovered from whatever ordeals he underwent during his time at the front.  John was a war invalid and was hospitalised for much of the remainder of his life.  He died only 5 years after the war concluded, at the Callan Park Mental Hospital, Leichhardt, on 7th June, 1950.  He was never married and had no children.

His story is one that reflects on the fact that it was not only those killed at the front, who gave their lives in service.

Information is courtesy of the niece of John and Bernard Gately, Mrs J. Phipps.

"GATELY, John.- June 7, 1950, dearly loved brother of May (Mrs. C. Deaves), Michael, Annie (Mrs. W. Deaves) and Ellen (Mrs. McGlynn) aged 56 years.

Requiescat in pace." - from the Sydney Morning Herald 09 Jun 1950 (nla.gov.au)