Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Heber Thornley Oates was born on 11 February 1889 at Sandie Town, Timaru, the only son of Thomas John and Catherine (née Williams) Oates. Thomas and Catherine, who were both from England, had married in 1885 at Timaru. They had a daughter, Mildred Elizabeth Oates (Millie) who was born in 1886 at Sandie Town, Timaru. Heber and Mildred were both educated at Sydenham School, Christchurch. Heber transferred to school at Waimate in April 1898, his parents having moved to Willowbridge. Their mother, Catherine, died at Truro, Cornwall, in 1909, when she had gone to the UK to visit her family, arriving with Thomas just a few days earlier. Thomas John Oates married Elizabeth Pratt (née Cox), a widow, in 1912 at Dunedin. Thomas John Oates, of Willowbridge, died at Mrs Henderson’s Private Hospital, Waimate, on 27 October 1914 and was buried in the local cemetery. Elizabeth Oates died in 1919 at Willowbridge.

Heber enlisted on 6 April 1916 at Trentham. He was a carter and single, residing at 276 Colombo Street, Sydenham, Christchurch. His nominated next-of-kin was his sister – Miss M. E, Oates, Henderson’s Hospital, Waimate. After her marriage in 1917, she became Mrs M. E. Adams, “Dalrigh” Hospital, Rhodes Street, Waimate. Private H. Oates embarked with the 15th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 26 July 1916. H. T. Oates, for Waimate, returned to New Zealand by the “Kia Toa”, which was due at Lyttelton on 7 May 1919. He was discharged on 6 June 1919 and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. From July 1916, the name of Heber Oates appeared regularly on the Waimate Daily Advertiser Roll of Honour under the sub-title of Answered the Call.

The Rangiora Methodist Church Roll of Honour pays tribute to not only to 14 fine young fellows who made the supreme sacrifice, but also those who had gone to the front. The widow of a young Rangiora man, who died of wounds in 1918, bore the cost of the memorial. On 23 January 1921, the beautiful tablet was unveiled. After hymns and the removal of the Union Jack, the whole congregation stood while Private H. T. Oates, late of the 10th Reinforcements, sounded the Last Post. There followed another hymn and an impressive sermon. Among the 47 additional names inscribed is that of H. T. Oates. Heber Oates was the conductor of the Rangiora Orchestral Society and on the eve of his marriage he was presented d with a silver hot-water jug by members of the society. When he lived at Willowbridge, he was a member of the Waimate Brass Band. Heber married Lucy Maud Harman on 9 June 1921 at the Rangiora Methodist Church. Their only child, a daughter, died at birth (8 October 1924).

Heber Thornley Oates died on 6 July 1964 at Christchurch, but of Rangiora. 75 years old, he was predeased by Lucy, who had died in 1955, and survived by Alice Annie Watts whom he had married in 1957. Heber and Lucy were buried at the Rangiora Methodist Cemetery, member of the Rangiora R.S.A. attending his funeral.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museumm Cenotaph Database [07 July 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [08 July 2022]; School Admission records (Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 July 2022]; Rangiora Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [18 July 2022]; Rangiora Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [18 July 2022]; Lyttelton Times, 9 July 1909, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 28 October 1914, 30 May 1918, 9 June 1921, Timaru Herald, 30 April 1919, Star, 9 October 1924 [x 2], Press, 24 January 1921, 8 June 1921, 7, 8 & 9 July 1964 (Papers Past) [18 September 2019; 18 July 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, Teresa Scott, South Canterbury Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.