Bateman, William
Lance Corporal William Horace Bateman – 28th Battalion AIF
William Horace Bateman was born in Fremantle in 1893 to John Wesley & Mary Bateman. The family resided at “Sydenham” in Moss Street East Fremantle (number 33). Horace had four siblings, with Herbert (born 1885), Guy (born 1887), Vernon (1890), and Charles (1895).
William attended Fremantle Boys School and Scotch College. He was working as a clerk after he left school.
William enlisted in March 1915 with his brother Herbert. William was given the regimental number 565 and his brother William, 564. Herbert also joined C Company of the 28th Battalion AIF.
His medical examination found William to be 5 feet 11 & ½ inches in height; weight of 155 lbs; chest measurement of 35-38 inches; grey eyes and dark brown hair. His religious denomination was Congregational.
The 28th Battalion embarked from Fremantle on the 29th June 1915 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Ascanius”. While the battalion was training in Egypt, William was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. He embarked with his battalion from Alexandria on the 4th September 1915 aboard the “Ivernia”. The 28th Battalion arrived at Gallipoli in September after the majority of the main attacks were over. They were sent up to garrison the trenches in the newly captured territory around The Apex and Rhododendron Spur. Nevertheless casualties occurred at a constant rate as men were killed wounded or struck down ill.
William was put into a beach fatigue party and worked to put stores on the beach and to take them up to the line. On the 8th December 1915 while on such duty he was killed instantly by a high explosive shell, one report saying that he was decapitated. William’s body was taken down and buried at N.Z. Point Cemetery (later Ari Burnu Plot H.2). He was buried and the service given by Canon H.S. Reid. His brother and some battalion mates were in attendance. His mother Mary received his personal effects and war medals and later penned an epitaph that would be inscribed on his grave at Ari Burnu Cemetery besides the Aegean Sea.
“Thou Renderest to Every Man According To His Work Psalm 62.V.12”