Individual Report: E30301 Ernest BATE

Rank:	First Name:	Second Name:
General Information
Rifleman	Ernest
From:	Enlistment Region:	Date of Birth (y-m-d):
Macclesfield, Cheshire UK	Eastern Quebec	1914-12-23
Appointment:	Company:	Platoon:
	B

Transportation - Home Base to Hong Kong

Members of 'C' Force from the East travelled across Canada by CNR troop train, picking up reinforcements enroute. Stops included Valcartier, Montreal, Ottawa, Armstrong ON, Capreol ON, Winnipeg, Melville SK, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper, and Vancouver, arriving in Vancouver on Oct 27 at 0800 hrs.

The Winnipeg Grenadiers and the local soldiers that were with Brigade Headquarters from Winnipeg to BC travelled on a CPR train to Vancouver.

All members embarked from Vancouver on the ships AWATEA and PRINCE ROBERT. AWATEA was a New Zealand Liner and the PRINCE ROBERT was a converted cruiser. "C" Company of the Rifles was assigned to the PRINCE ROBERT, everyone else boarded the AWATEA. The ships sailed from Vancouver on Oct 27th and arrived in Hong Kong on November 16th, having made brief stops enroute at Honolulu and Manila.

Equipment earmarked for 'C' Force use was loaded on the ship DON JOSE, but would never reach Hong Kong as it was rerouted to Manila when hostilities commenced.

On arrival, all troops were quartered at Nanking Barracks, Sham Shui Po Camp, in Kowloon.

Battle Information

Killed in action at Stanley Mound. For a detailed description of the battle from a Canadian perspective, visit Canadian Participation in the Defense of Hong Kong (published by the Historical Section, Canadian Military Headquarters).

Wounded Information

No wounds recorded.

Other Military or Public Service

No other or additional related information found. Please submit documents to us using the contact link at the top of this page.

Death and Cemetery Information

Date of Death (y-m-d)	Cause of Death	Death Class
1941-12-22		Killed In Action
Cemetery Location	Cemetery	Grave Number	Gravestone Marker
Cape Collinson Road Chai Wan Hong Kong China	Sai Wan Memorial	Column 23.	NA

Gravestone Image

Obituary / Life Story

HOMAGE PAID BOYS WHO DIED AT HONG KONG
Memorial Service Held in South Durham for Rfm. R. Newell and Rfm. E. Bates, of Royal Rifles, who were killed in action.
Lisgar, July 16. In fitting tribute. to Rfm. Lorne Newell and Rfm. Ernest Bates, of this place, who gave their lives in defending the British garrison of Hong Kong in December, 1941, a memorial service was held in St. James' Church, South Durham.
Rfm. Newell, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Newell, was killed in action on December 8, 1941, in that epic struggle. He was born at Lisgar on July 8, 1923, and had spent all his life in this community where he was popular in social life, and well liked by all who knew him. Enlisting in the Royal Rifles of Canada on August 26, 1940, Rfm. Newell trained at Camp Valcartier, Que., Sussex, N.B., and Newfoundland. He left the following year for active duty in the Far East and prior to his embarkation spent his last leave with his parents. The last message from him was a cable dated November 17, 1941, telling his parents of his safe arrival in Hong Kong.
Mourning his death are his parents, five sisters, Esther, Mrs. Calvin Coote, Doris, Mrs. Arthur Rosell, Dorothea, Iona and Elaine; two brothers, Cecil and Merton, a corporal in the Seaforth Highlanders, and a large number of other relatives.
Rfm, Ernest Bates was born in England, but had resided in this country for many years. He made many friends while here, and spent his last leave at the Newell home. He enlisted in the Royal Rifles at the same time as Lorne Newell, with whom he was the best of friends.
Mourning his death are his aged father in England and a brother in the services there.
The memorial service was conducted by Rev. Mr. Denton, and opened with the singing of "Onward Christian Soldiers." The flag bearers, the flower bearers and the relatives entered the church between a guard of honor. Odd Fellow Winston Duffy was the flag bearer, while the flower bearers were Calvin Fleming, Walter Montgomery, Galan Coote, and Claude Morril, all friends of the two soldiers. A large cross of flowers, given by the Rebekahs and Odd Fellows, was carried by Ernest Carson, who placed it on the altar.
The sermon was taken from the Book of Joshua, and throughout the service two soldiers were mounted. as a guard of honor on both sides of the altar. The hymns were "Unto the Hills Do I Lift Mine Longing Eyes," "Abide with Me" and "Jesus, Lover of My Soul."
Following the National Anthem, the congregation went to the United Cemetery, where a large Union Jack had been placed, and where a guard of honor was mounted. Flowers were placed at the four corners of the family lot by the flower bearers. Rfm. Newell's photo was placed on the flag by his mother, while his medal and messages were put there by his father. After this ceremony, messages from the King and Col. Ralston were read by Winston Duffy.
Many friends from far and near came to pay homage to these two young soldiers. Some of those who came from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Buzzell, of Magog. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon McCourt, of Sherbrooke, Mr. Joseph Burgess, Mrs. Ida Gaffery and Mrs. Dan McLeod, of St. Johnsbury, Vt., Mr. and Mrs. W. Fleming. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Fleck, of Melbourne, Mrs. Clara Newell, Miss Dorothea Newell, Mrs. Fred Newell, and Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Newell, of Richmond.

Links and Other Resources

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General Comments

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End of Report.

Report generated: 27 Apr 2025.

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Additional Notes

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Service numbers for officers ("X") are locally generated for reporting only. During World War II officers were not allocated service numbers until 1945.
'C' Force soldiers who died overseas are memorialized in the Books of Remembrance and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial, both sponsored by Veterans Affairs Canada. Please use the search utility at VAC to assist you.
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