Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Campbell Bates was born on 21 November 1889, probably in the vicinity of Glenavy, the fifth son of Joseph and Janet (née Campbell) Bates. Joseph and Janet married in 1868 at Dalziel, Lanarkshire, Scotland and arrived in New Zealand in about 1879 with five children, the youngest born on the voyage out. Their second child had died in Scotland in 1872. They settled in the vicinity of Glenavy, Joseph a farmer. The family was at Waitaki North when eldest daughter Jessie married in May 1896. James attended Tawai School (then known as Waitaki Village School) in Waimate County, moving to Windsor School in 1903. Of the thirteen surviving siblings, all but his eldest brother attended Redcliffs and /or Tawai schools before the family moved to Windsor near Oamaru in about 1902 after Joseph had acquired an allotment at Elderslie Settlement. Mr Joseph Bates died suddenly at his Windsor residence on 15 February 1906. He had been a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church at both Glenavy and Windsor. The youngest son, Frederick John Reid Bates, died at his parents’ Windsor residence on 19 November 1913, aged 17 years and was buried at Oamaru.

James was a shepherd at Mossburn when he enlisted at Winton in January 1917. Single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs J. Bates, Windsor, Otago. In February 1917 at Gore, “James Campbell Bates (shepherd, Mossburn) lodged an appeal, which was supported by his employer (Mr Chewings). He did not object to go, but had appealed at the request of his employer. Mr Chewings said he had 5500 acres of freehold and 6000 acres of leasehold. It was hard to get qualified men to look after cattle and sheep. The man knew his business, and was capable of attending to his work. The appeal was dismissed, the board remarking that the difficulty of getting skilled men was increasing, and that representations about it would be made to the Government. The appellant would not be called up before April 1.” Private J. Bates embarked with the Otago Infantry Regiment of the 27th Reinforcements, departing for Devonport, England per the “Tahiti” on 13 June 1917. He embarked for the return to New Zealand per the “Ruahine” on 13 October 1919. He was discharged on 24 January 1920 and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

After the war, James resumed his shepherding work in various localities. He died on 13 February 1953 at Christchurch, aged 63 years, and was interred with his brother Alexander at Oamaru Cemetery. By his Will signed a week before his death he made provision for siblings and a nephew, as well as a bequest to the Red Cross. His sister Elizabeth had died in 1923, his eldest brother John in 1934, Alexander in 1938, sister Janet (Jessie) in 1945, and sister Jane in 1949,. His mother Janet died on 10 June 1934. Two brother s of James also served in World War One – Alexander Mitchell Campbell Bates and Thomas Reid Bates. Another brother, Joseph Bates, was a shearer at Windsor when he was called up in 1917. James Hope, a son of Jessie Bates and Walter Hope, and nephew of James, served in World War Two. J. Bates’ name is inscribed on the Tawai District Memorial as Served Overseas. The Tawai Soldiers War Memorial and Roll of Honour were unveiled on 23 August 1923. Tawai had a war record to be proud of. The proceedings opened with the singing of the National Anthem. After the unveiling of the memorial, “To the glory of God, and in memory of the men from Tawai District who made the great sacrifice.”, the prayer of dedication was said.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [05 January 2024]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [05 January 2024]; School Admission records (South Canterbury & Oamaru branches NZSG) [05 January 2024]; Oamaru Cemetery headstone transcription [05 January 2024]; Oamaru Mail, 16 February 1906, Otago Daily Times, 10 February 1917, Timaru Herald, 24 August 1923, Press, 14 February 1953 (Papers Past) [09 February 2020; 05 & 06 January 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.