John William Coates

First Name: 
John
Middle Name: 
William
Last Name: 
Coates
Date of Birth: 
Saturday, August 17, 1889
Mother's Name: 
Amelia Coates (nee Wigham)
Father's Name: 
John Coates
Date Enlisted: 
Monday, July 19, 1915
Rank at Enlistment: 
Private
Rank at Discharge: 
Private
Unit: 
55th Battalion
Company: 
D
Service: 
Infantry
Awards: 
1914/1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Date of Death: 
Wednesday, July 16, 1969
Place of Death: 
Wollongong, N.S.W.
Details: 

John Coates (Service No 2601) was born in Mount Morgan, Queensland, later moving to Wollongong, N.S.W.

When he enlisted he was a single 26 year old electric motor driver living in Smith Street, Wollongong.

John embarked from Sydney on HMAT A14 Euripides with the 17th Battalion, 6th Reinforcements  on 2nd November 1915.  After arriving in Egypt he was transferred to the 55th Battalion on 16th February 1916.  The 55th was sent to the quiet sector of the Western Front and saw action at Fromelle.    On 19th July, as a member of 16 Platoon D Company, John was tasked to be a carrier for the attacking troops.  He soon became involved in the chaos of battle and was wounded.  The battle was lost and Coates was taken prisoner.

John was sent to hospital for treatment of wounds to his head and both eyes.  After recovering he went to a POW camp in Germany.  On 13th June 1918 he was moved to a camp in Holland.

Joh was repatriated to England on 22nd November 1918, and returned to Australia in March 1919.  He was discharged from the Army on 20th June 1919.

In 1924 he married Beatrice Peterson in Wollongong and remained there till he died in 1969.

Sources: 
NAA: B2455, COATES J W