Thomas Auburn Oates (1890 - 1916)

Born 18 Apr 1890 in Auburn, South Australia, Australia

Ancestors

Died 4 Sep 1916 at age 26 in France

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Biography

Thomas Oates is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Private Thomas Oates was killed in action during World War I.

Thomas was born in 1890. He was the son of George Oates and Judith Cooper. ^[1]

He was 25 years old when he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 10 Aug 1915.
He embarked with the 11th reinforcement, 12th Australian Infantry Battalion on HMAT Benalla A24 from Adelaide on 27 Oct 1915.
On arrival in Egypt he joined the 52nd Battalion. They departed Alexandria on the Ivernia, arriving at Marseilles on 11 Jun 1916.
The 52nd fought in its first major battle at Mouquet Farm on 3 September 1916. Thomas was reported missing in action. In Feb 1917 whereas he was previously reported missing in action, he was now reported as killed in action on 4 Sep 1916.
He was buried in Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, France.

THE LATE PRIVATE T. A. OATES.
Mrs. J. M. Oates, of Jamestown, whose son, Private Thomas A. Oates, has been missing since September, 1916, has been informed that he was killed in action on September 4. Private Oates previous to enlisting was a resident of Jamestown, and was well-known and respected throughout the district. He offered his services in August, 1915, and left Australia in October of the same year, arriving in France in June, 1916. It was at the battle of Moquet Farm that Private Oates made the supreme sacrifice. He left a widowed mother residing in Jamestown, and one brother, Mr. H. W. Oates, of Auburn. He was 26 years of age. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ South Australia Birth Index. (Genealogy SA, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/index.php : accessed 17 Sep 2022) database entry for Thomas Auburn OATES (Birth date 18 Apr 1890, Father George OATES, Mother Judith Marina COOPER, Birth Residence Auburn) Reference: District Upper Wakefield, Book/Page 458/100
2. ↑ "THE LATE PRIVATE T. A. OATES." Chronicle (Adelaide, SA : 1895 - 1954) 10 March 1917: 43. Web. 17 Sep 2022 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87443213>.

• First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 OATES Thomas Auburn : Service Number 3281 NAA: B2455, OATES THOMAS AUBURN
• First World War Embarkation Rolls. (Australian War Memorial, http://www.awm.gov.au : accessed 17 Sep 2022) Thomas Auburn Oates Service number 3281, Rank Private. 12 Infantry Battalion - 9 to 12 Reinforcements (September-December 1915) Date of embarkation 27 Oct 1915, Place of embarkation Adelaide, Ship embarked on HMAT Benalla A24.
• Roll of Honour. (Australian War Memorial, http://www.awm.gov.au : accessed 17 Sep 2022) Thomas Auburn Oates Service number 3281, Rank Private. 52nd Australian Infantry Battalion. Date of death 4 Sep 1916. Place of death France. Cause of death killed in action. Age at death 26. Serre Road Cemetery No 1, Beaumont Hamel, Picardie, France.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 17 September 2022), memorial page for Pvt Thomas Auburn Oates (18 Apr 1890–4 Sep 1916), Find A Grave: Memorial #56459902, citing Serre Road Cemetery No. 1, Puisieux, Departement du Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France; Maintained by Coleman ✿ (contributor 47076912) .
• Private Thomas Auburn Oates (Commonwealth War Graves Commission, https://www.cwgc.org : accessed 17 Sep 2022) Service number 3281. Australian Infantry, AIF 52nd Bn. Died 4 Sep 1916, Age 26 years old. Serre Road Cemetery No. 1. Son of Mrs. Judith Marina Oates, of Jamestown, South Australia.

• 12th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements Photograph and research page.