48698
OATES, Howard Milton
| Service Number: | 56116 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 22 April 1918, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Gawler, South Australia , 3 February 1886 |
| Home Town: | Norwood (SA), South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Fuel & Chaff Merchant & Motor Driver |
| Memorials: | Gawler Council Gawler Men Who Answered the Call WW1 Roll of Honor, Gawler Salvation Army Honour Roll, Gawler War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Apr 1918: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 56116, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 23 Jul 1918: | Involvement Private, 56116, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Marathon embarkation_ship_number: A74 public_note: '' | |
| 23 Jul 1918: | Embarked Private, 56116, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, HMAT Marathon, Melbourne | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Private, 56116, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 10 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 56116, 10th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District |
Help us honour Howard Milton Oates's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by St Ignatius' College
Life before war
Before the war Howard was a fuel and chaff merchant, he worked hard every day to earn money for himself and his wife; Mrs Leah Oates. They lived together in Norwood South Australia and were both born in Gawler, South Australia. They both practiced Methodism and went to Church every Sunday. Howard was 32 when he embarked for war in 1918. He was accepted and then trained in Melbourne, Victoria.
Life during war
After training in Melbourne Howard disembarked on the 23 July 1918 on board the HMAT A74 Marathon. He arrived in London and quickly disembarked again on the 27 of September 1918. He travelled to Cerisy, France to fight with the 10th battalion. They fought in trench to trench warfare against the Germans, even after suffering heavy losses in Merris, France.
However, after just six days of fighting, on the 3rd of October 1918 Howard went to hospital, sick with influenza. He remained sick in hospital until the 22nd of October 1918, when the 10th Battalion moved away from the front lines and went to Bruccamp, France. In Bruccamp they trained hard for about a month. In this time, they also paraded, went to Church and received lectures, but Howard was sick in hospital.
At the start of December 1918, the 10th Battalion travelled to Beugnies, France but were not needed on the front lines, so they returned to Chatelet (a district of Paris). In Chatelet the 10th Battalion trained and relaxed. One of the most interesting things they did in Chatelet was participate in a soccer tournament against the English. They also received lectures from many important people, including the Pope and the King George the V. On the 2nd of January 1919 Howard returned to Australia, unable to fight due to sickness of influenza and pleurisy.
Anzac spirit
Some important aspects of the ANZAC spirit are bravery, comradery and mateship. These qualities were reflected in almost all soldiers in war, however I think Howard showed them more than most. He trained hard in Melbourne and London for over 6 months and then fought for 6 days before falling sick with influenza. Even after this crushing disappointment as he was not able to fight for his country and perhaps worse, the horrible pain of the disease Howard stayed with his unit as they travelled. I think this shows bravery as if the lines broke or something went wrong during the fighting Howard would not be able to defend himself. I think this also shows great comradery and mateship, staying with his battalion even when sick and rendered effectively useless.
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Albert Oates and Amy Oates nee Frost of Union Street, Gawler, SA.
Brother of Eric Edwin Oates who returned to Australia on 10 December 1917 having served with the 15th Battalion; Irwin Harry Oates who returned to Australia on 19 November 1915 having served with the 10th Battalion.
Medal: British War Medal