BATES Wilfred Samuel Wilson

Pte Wilfred Bates Sammy was born in 1891 at Lowdham, Nottingham. He was 5`3", had gray eyes and brown hair His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs Bessie Wilson Bates, The Elms, Epperstone, Nottingham. His father William James Bates owned a Sporting Company in Nottingham. Pte Bates was a farm worker in the UK and worked in Montville as a fruit farmer. He enlisted on 26th August 1915 and sailed on the HMAT Kyara out of Brisbane on 3/1/1916

He was transferred from the 9th to 47th Btl.on 26/4/1916 at Serapeum. Wounded in France 15/4/1918 with a gunshot wound in the right arm and was admitted to Staty Hospital

After he recovered from his injury he was transferred from 47th to 45th Bt 13/8/1918.

He returned to Australia on the Argylshire and disembarked on 22/9/1919

In the census of 1919 he is listed in Lilley, Nambour as a labourer in Montville in the census of 1925 he is listed in Deep Creek, Gympie as a Dairy Farmer In the census of 1930 he is listed in Herberton, North Queensland as a Miner

On 1st March,1922 he married Sophie Daw Lark . Sophie died on 28/6/1924 ....Pte Bates never remarried and left for Herberton.

This began a lifelong friendship with Bill Todd's grandparents and parents and he lived with them til the day he died. He was in a mining partnership for 15 years with Granddad Harry until an accident prevented him going underground. He then worked as a timber cutter and also became a well known local beekeeper.

Pte Wilfred Sammy Bates died In Herberton on 20th March 1963 aged 72 and is buried in Herberton Cemetery Row 30 Plot 24 C of E section RIP

Montville District Roll of Honour Board, Montville Community Hall, Montville-Mapleton Road, Montville

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

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National Archives
Family story and photos courtesy of Bill Todd