Harold Joseph Gates (1892 - 1916)

Ancestors

Biography

Harold was born in 1891 at or about Boat Harbour in the Colony of Tasmania, in what would later become Australia. He was the son of Robert Gates and his wife Jane (nee Shearer). ^[1]

Private Harold Joseph Gates a labourer and resident of Myalla in Tasmania aged 23, enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) on the 14th of August 1915. His Next of kin was listed as his father, R H Gates of Terry Hie Hie via Moree, New South Wales. Harold was assigned to the 26th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements and this unit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A55 Kyarra on 3 January 1916. Private Gates continued to serve with the 26th Battalion on the Western Front until he died of wounds on the 6th of August 1916 at Pozieres, Somme Sector, France at the age of 24. He was buried at the Puchevillers British Cemetery (Plot I, Row E, Grave No. 62), France. He is commemorated in Australia on the Roll of Honour 107 at the Australian War Memorial. Harold was listed as Native of Table Cape, Tasmania, and his parents are listed as Robert and Jane Gates of Cimitiere Street, Launceston, Tasmania, who would have received his British War Medal & Victory Medal.

He was a private with the 26th Battalion, and received a shrapnel wound while in fighting on the Somme. He died on the 6 August 1916 and was buried at Puchevillers, France in the Commonwealth War graves. Plot 1 Row E Grave 62. The inscription on his headstone reads: In Memory of Harold Joseph Gates Private 3656 26th Bn., Australian Infantry, AIF Who died on Sunday 6th August 1916. Aged 24 He sleeps in Jesus. The dead in Christ Shall rise first.

The biographical details which the family provided for the War Museum stated: "He was a strong, well built, athletic young man very popular in his district, and noted for axemanship"

Sources

1. ↑ Birth Index
   Tasmania Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages
   Index entry for Harold Joseph Gates
   FATHER: Robert Henry Gates
   MOTHER: Jane Watt Shearer
   PLACE OF BIRTH: Ringarooma Tasmania Australia
   DATE OF BIRTH: 24 Jul 1892
   REF No: 2208/1892

• Australia birth index, WW1 service records, UK Commonwealth War Graves

• Harold Joseph GATES from the AIF PROJECT website first accessed online on the 24th of June, 2023.

• Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 24 June 2023), memorial page for Private Harold Joseph Gates (24 Jul 1892–6 Aug 1916), Find a Grave Memorial ID Find A Grave: Memorial #56577600, citing Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France; Maintained by Digger (contributor 50072026).

• PRIVATE HAROLD JOSEPH GATES Service Number: 3656 ©2023 Commonwealth War Graves Commission.