BATES, John Robert
| Service Numbers: | 89, 624 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Tarlo, Goulburn - New South Wales, Australia, 1875 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer, Soldier |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 89, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jan 1900: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 89, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 457 notes 2nd QMI embarked 13 Jan 1900 aboard Maori King arriving Cape Town 24 Feb 1900. | |
| 17 May 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 89, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry, National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier notes returned to Australia aboard Tongariro arriving Brisbane 3 May 1901, discharged 17 May 1901. | |
| 20 Aug 1901: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 624, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 506 notes he was part of 1st Draft of 6th QIB embarked Sydney 20 Aug 1901 arriving Cape Town 22 Sep 1901. | |
| 2 Jul 1902: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 624, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen, Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 62, notes discharged in South Africa on 2 Jul 1902. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
John Robert Bates served twice in the South African (Boer) war. First service was as a Private S.N. 89, 2nd Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Private S.N. 624, 6th Queensland Imperial Bushmen (1st Draft).
When he joined the 2nd QMI in 1899/1900 and his details were published with the rank and file in The Queenslander, 20 Jan 1900, he noted he was single and residing at the Brisbane Coffee Palace, Queen St, Brisbane. He was invalided from the 2nd QMI and discharged in Brisbane in Mar 1901.
Not long after he was selected in the First Draft of the 6th QIB and embarked again for South Africa in Aug 1901. The members of the draft mainly consisted of men who had served in previous contingents in South Africa and were assembled as reinforcements for the 5th and 6th QIB contingents already in South Africa. Men in the draft were not recorded in the original nominal roll for the 6th QIB. He was, however, recorded in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 5th QIB (to which he was allotted), Bk 4 p. 62.
Newspaper reports note when the 5th QIB returned to Australia a number of men remained in South Africa for various reasons including for further service. The Brisbane Courier, 16 May 1902, notes when the 5th QIB embarked to return to Australia that, S.N. 624, Private Jno. R. Bates, remained in South Africa for further service. The paybooks note he was discharged in South Africa in Jul 1902.
John Robert Bates was born in 1875 at Tarlo (near Goulburn), NSW, a son to John and Emma Bates. He married Sarah Jane Willis in 1899 at Mosman, Sydney, NSW. At the time of their marriage it appears that John was serving in the NSW Regiment Royal Australian Artillery as an artilleryman.
It appears that not long after marrying he deserted his post in the NSW Regiment, as reported in the NSW Police Gazette, 22 Nov 1899, "At Sydney, 9th November 1899. No. 2480. Gunner, J. R. Bates, born at Tarlo, near Goulburn, 24 years and 11 months of age, 5 feet 9 3/4 inches high, light-brown hair, blue eyes, fresh complexion; trade- a farmer; dressed in regimentals; under 4 years' service." It appears he deserted his post and travelled to Queensland to join up for the Boer war.
The above is gleaned from divorce proceedings undertaken by his wife in 1906 on the basis of desertion. It appears he did not return from South Africa at least not until after the divorce had been ratified. In a report covering proceedings in The Evening News (Syd), 28 Jun 1906, Sarah provided information as to her claim of desertion.
She noted she married John Robert Bates and that he had been an artilleryman before they married. In Aug 1901 he went to the war in South Africa and had been away ever since. She had been recieving money from him up to Jun 1902. After seeing a letter produced by his brother she stated he had been away from her twice before and she did not intend to travel to South Africa. There is only one John Robert Bates recorded in the nominal roll compiled by Murray, the soldier that served in 2 Queensland contingents.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 461 & 518; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st service; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 2nd QMI, Bk 1 p. 13, and 5th QIB, Bk 4 p. 62; newspaper articles referenced in bio- see also links).
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