Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank, and his twin brother Phil, were born on 31 Jan 1919 at Tumby Bay to Herbert Horace Bates and Sarah Ellen Bates (nee Kennett).  He was the 5th eldest of 8 children in the family (one of whom was adopted), 7 boys and a girl. His father was a farmer, initially in the Booleroo area and then in Port Neill/ Wharminda area (Sect 1, Hd of Dixon)

Frank went to school at Brayfield, leaving after gaining his QC to work on farms in the area picking stumps and stones. The brothers then burnt the stumps in pits for charcoal which they then sold to the Todd Reservoir Pumping Station for use in their engines.  He enlisted in the Army at Port Neill on 29 Jan 1942; at this time he gave his occupation as “share farmer” and his address as care of Tumby Bay.

He reported to Wayville on 31 Jan 1942 for processing, before being sent to 3rd Training Battalion for basic training. During training he was transferred to Motor Vehicle Trade Training Centre (MVTTC) to attend a Driver/Mechanic course; he qualified on the course and was then transferred to 6th Motor Brigade on 11 Apr 1942. A month later he was transferred to 18th Motor Brigade in SA Lines of Communication (L of C) area.

On 9 Jun 1942 he returned to 6th Motor Brigade before being posted to 12th Armoured Regiment in Vic L of C area as a Driver/Specialist Group 3.

Two months later he was again sent to the MVTTC to attend a further qualifying course as a Driver Motor Transport, 1st Class. He was successful and returned to his unit on 28 Oct 1942, but it was short stay as on 8 Jan 1943 he was evacuated to 107th Army General Hospital (Vic) with mumps. He was released from hospital in Mar 1943 and given 3 weeks leave without pay (LWOP), ostensibly to recuperate. He made good use of the time as it was during this leave that he married Valda Jean Poole on 15 Mar 1943 at Tumby Bay Church of Christ.

On 19 Apr 1943 he returned from LWOP and marched into to Wayville (SA). On the same day he was transferred to Army School of Mechanisation in Vic L of C area, where he remained for 6 months before being detached to 2nd Australian Corps, Qld L of C area, as a Driver/Specialist. Unfortunately the vision in his left eye was found to be unsuitable for this trade and he was medically downgraded to fitness level B2 and re-mustered from Driver to Storeman Technical, Group 3. On 25 Jan 1945 he was promoted to Acting Corporal in this trade.

On 29 Oct 1945 he was transferred to SA L of C area for reallocation. A month later he was posted to Sandy Creek Prisoner of War Camp, Section 8 (near Lameroo SA). He was retained in this posting after the end of the war as “essential for Prisoner of War control at the camp”. On 27 Mar 1946 he was discharged from the Army at Wayville, despite the objections of his unit.

After discharge the couple moved to Arno Bay and Frank continued working on farms before moving to Tumby Bay in the late 1940s and taking employ with Poole Bros. Builders. It was here that they started and raised their family of 3 children, 2 girls and a boy. They had built a house near where the tower is now located on the “island” estate and remained there until Frank retired; then the couple moved into a house on Tumby Terrace.

They were both keen sports people in their early days; Frank playing both football and cricket and Valda playing net ball. The family also regularly attended the movies in Tumby Bay on Saturday nights.

Frank’s wife, Valda, died on 28 Oct 1987 and is buried in the Tumby Bay Cemetery. Frank died on 11 Jul 1995 and is buried beside his wife.