Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK

Died on this date – 4th November..... Henry Michael de Bathe was born at Brixton, Lambeth, London, England in 1889.

Henry Michael de Bathe was listed as an apprentice indentured in the Merchant Navy. He was aged 17 & enrolled at the port of London for an indenture of 3 years from 3rd December, 1906. He was bound to Potter Brothers.

Henry Michael de Bathe received his Certificate of Competence as Second Mate of a Foreign-going Ship on the 22nd July, 1910.

Henry Michael de Bathe enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 26th December, 1914 at Enoggera, Queensland as a 25 year old, single, Stockman. He was posted to 5th Light Horse Regiment & joined them at Gallipoli on 29th July, 1915.

Private Henry Michael de Bathe was granted a Commission as Temporary 2nd/Lieutenant on 23rd October, 1915 in 9th Sherwood Foresters, Imperial Army.

Temporary 2nd/Lieutenant Henry Michael de Bathe was appointed to Temporary Lieutenant from 1st July, 1917.

Temporary Lieutenant Henry Michael de Bathe joined Royal Air Force (R.A.F.). His occupation in Civilian life was listed as Stockman in his own business in Queensland/ Northern Territory from 1910 to 1915. He was made Lieutenant effective 10th April, 1918.

Lieutenant Henry Michael de Bathe was injured on 5th April, 1918 while at No. 53 Training Squadron, Grantham. He was a Flying Instructor in a Royal Aircraft Factory R.E.8 serial B7728 with pupil 2/Lieutenant J. C. Tate which “was due to an error of judgement on the part of the pilot and instructor, Lt. deBath,”
On 4th November, 1918 Lieutenant Henry Michael de Bathe was flying an Avro 504 – serial number D8916 at R.A.F. Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England. He died at 10.10 am on 4th November, 1918 at R.A.F. Cranwell, Lincolnshire, England from a collision in the air.
A Court of Inquiry was held No. 145853:
“Due to a collision in the air. From evidence received it appears that B.E.2 8409 Capt. Sutherland, pilot, while making right hand climbing turn below 500ft, after rising from an attempted landing collided with Avro 8916 which was landing on the Southern Aerodrome. All occupants of machines were on duty at time of accident.”

Lieutenant Henry Michael De Bathe was buried in St. Andrew’s Churchyard, West Stoke, Sussex, England.
Lieutenant Henry Michael De Bathe is remembered on the Commemorative Roll Book, located in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. The Commemorative Roll records the names of those Australians who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served, but who were not serving in the Australian Armed Forces and therefore not eligible for inclusion on the Roll of Honour.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/west-stoke.html