BATES, Ernest William
| Service Number: | 270 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 28 January 1915, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 27th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia , 14 April 1891 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Sturt Street State School, Adelaide South Australia |
| Occupation: | Letterpress Machinist |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 7 August 1916, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Puchevillers British Cemetery, France Plot II, Row D, Grave No. 28 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Adelaide St John's Anglican Church Memorial Tablet, Adelaide Sturt Street Public School Great War Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, St Peters All Souls Anglican Church Honour Board WW1, St Peters Heroes War Memorial, Stepney Norwood Cycling Club Great War Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 28 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Adelaide, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 270, 27th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: '' | |
| 31 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 270, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Liana Lobianco
Ernest William Bates was born on the 14th of April 1891 in Adelaide, South Australia. His parents were William Henry and Rebecca BATES, and it was unknown whether he had any other siblings. Together they lived at 253 Flinders Street in a home which was quite central in Adelaide. He attended Sturt Street State School in Adelaide and later became a letterpress machinist.
At age 23 on the 28th of January 1915, Bates enlisted to fight in World War 1. His rank of enlistment was a Sergeant and was in the 27th Battalion. Shortly after, his unit the Australian Imperial Force embarked from his hometown Adelaide on the 31st of May 1915. The only conflict Bates had fought in was the First World War.
The 27th Battalion was known as “Unley’s Own” as the majority of the men that enlisted were from this district. However, Bates was not.
Bates first embarked with his unit to Egypt after many weeks of intense training, route marches and farewell parades in front of large, enthusiastic crowds. In Egypt, further intensive training was continued to prepare the men for the worst. He was later transferred to Gallipoli with his battalion which soon got evacuated due to poor hygiene and sanitation which caused the danger of him getting serious diseases such as enteric fever and other maladies. His final destination he travelled to was Western Europe, France.
The battalion fought with clear distinction throughout Western Europe. Bates’ body quickly deteriorated within three days as he received fatal wounds during an early night attack on the 5th of August 1916 and was refused to be relieved. He was then wounded again during an early morning counter-attack on the 6th of August 1916 at 4:00 am.
On the 7th of August 1916 at age 25, Ernest William Bates was pronounced dead due to fatal wounds in Pozieres Somme Sector, France.
His place of burial is the Puchevillers British Cemetery, France. (Plot II, Row D, Grave no. 28).
Biography
Son of William Henry BATES and Rebecca nee CREAMAN
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