Albert Edward Raymond BATES

BATES, Albert Edward Raymond

Service Number: NX68983
Enlisted: 5 March 1941, Paddington, New South Wales
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion
Born: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, 2 November 1920
Home Town: Mayfield East, Newcastle, New South Wales
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Died of Illness (POW of Japan), Borneo, 26 March 1945, aged 24 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
LABUAN MEMORIAL Panel 13. Malaysia
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Labuan Memorial, Labuan Federal Territory, Malaysia
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World War 2 Service

5 Mar 1941: Enlisted Private, NX68983, Paddington, New South Wales
5 Mar 1941: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, NX68983, 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion
26 Mar 1945: Involvement Private, NX68983, 2nd/20th Infantry Battalion, Prisoners of War

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"...NX68983 Private Albert Edward Raymond Bates, 2/20th Battalion, Australian Infantry. He was one of over 2000 Allied prisoners of war (POW) held in the Sandakan POW camp in north Borneo, having been transferred there from Singapore as a part of E Force. The 500 Australian and 500 British POW's who made up E Force, left Changi on 28 March 1943, on board the S.S. DeKlerk arriving at Berhala Island (adjacent to Sandakan Harbour) on 15 April 1943. The POW's were held there until 5 June, when they were taken by barge to Sandakan. The next day they were transferred to the 8 Mile Camp, which was about half a mile from the B Force compound. Private Bates, aged 24, died as a prisoner of the Japanese on 26 March 1945. He was the son of Sidney Richard and Rosie May Bates, of Mayfield, NSW. He is commemorated on the Labuan Memorial Panel 13." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

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