The Soldier's Details

Bates enlisted AIF Oct 1940 and later joined 2/4th’s ‘A’ Coy 4 Platoon under CO Lt McCaffrey.  He trained as a rangetaker.

He left Singapore with the first work party ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion to work on the Burma end of the Railway.  Please read further about ‘A’ Force.

 

 

Please read of the men in A Coy No. 4 Platoon

Below: Bates and Pimlott recorded at Tamarkan  Camp, Thailand.

While working in Burma Ted was twice evacuated sick to hospital camps.

Ted was selected to work in Japan, however he was a very fortunate man.   He missed his draft as he was ill.  Many of his mates would have lost their lives in the South China Sea when their POW Transport Ship ‘Rakuyo’ Maru was torpedoed by US submarines and sunk 12 Sept 1944.

Bates was recovered from Thailand at the end of the war.

 

 

 

 

Ted’s father Edward Russel Bates migrated with his family to Perth 1894 from NZ.  He married English born Ruth Norman in 1915. Their son Ted was born April 1916 and on 13 Nov 1916 Edward Bates enlisted WW1 and joined 28th Battalion reinforcements.  He was KIA 1 June 1918 France and was buried:

Franvillers Communal Cemetery Extension (3 1/4 miles N or Corbia), Somme, France.

Please read about this Cemetery

Ruth remarried in 1926 to Robert H Campbell.  She died 6 Nov 1973 aged 86 years at Yokine, WA.

In 1943 Electoral Roll, prior to enlisting Ted shows he was  living North Perth and working as a cleaner.

In 1946 Ted married May Eldred George in Perth.

In 1954 and 1963 Electoral Roll Ted and May are residing Mt Lawley.  Ted is working as a loco driver.

Ted Bates died 27 Nov 2005 at Busselton aged 89 year and was cremated Bunbury.  His wife may died 15 July 2002 aged 86 years also in Busselton.

 

 

Below:  Ted married May George 1946.

 

Below:  Death of May’s faher John Henry George in 1947.

 

 

 

 

Below:  are notices for death of Ted’s father L/Corp Edward Russel Bates who was KIA 1 June 1918, France.