John Bates was born in Kendal, Westmoreland on 6th June 1895, He had two sisters: Kathleen, b. 1897, Kendal; and Edith, b. 1899, Langholm. Before moving to Perthshire the family also lived in Westoe Village, South Shields. John’s maternal grandmother Catherine Marwick was from Stromness, Orkney.

John Bates (Reg. No. 106349), served with the Royal Engineers as a Gas Specialist and served in France with the B.E.F. from 8th August 1915. He joined No. 21 Officer Cadet Battalion, and was commissioned as Temp. 2nd. Lieut. R.M. on 27th June 1917.

He was promoted to Temp. Lieut. On 27th June 1918 and was drafted to the B.E.F. on 16th April, and the 2nd. R.M. Battalion on 22nd April 1918. He then transferred to the 1st. R.M. Battalion on 28th April 1918, and served with them until his death on 5th September 1918.

People’s Journal (Perthshire), 21st September 1918 “PERTHSHIRE FALLEN HEROES - LATEST CASUALTY LIST - PERTH “Lt. John R. Bates, R.M.L.I., only son of Mr George F. Bates, organiser of instruction, Perth County Committee on Secondary Education, and of Mrs Bates, Westoe, Craigie, Perth, has been killed in action. He was a student at the time of his enlisting. He was gassed near Loos in Oct. 1915.”

Westmoreland Gazette, 21st September 1918 “CASUALTIES - KENDAL - KILLED IN ACTION “BATES, Lt. John R., Royal Marine Light Infantry, only son of Mr. G. F. Bates, late of Kendal, and now Director of Education for the County of Perth, was killed in action on September 5th. He enlisted from Glasgow University in 1914, on the outbreak of war, joining the H.L.I. He was at the front with the H.L.I, being slightly wounded, and later, being an analytical chemist, was transferred to the special section of the R.M. Subsequently he accepted a commission in the R.M.L.I. He was 23 years of age." His Major wrote that ‘he was hit by a portion of a shell, and at once rendered unconscious. He was removed to the regimental aid post, but died in a few minutes. The doctor says that he could not have suffered any pain.’ The letter continues ‘ Your son had proved himself a most efficient officer, and during the last week of August had been of the greatest assistance to me, and performed difficult and dangerous tasks with cheerfulness and gallantry.’”

John Bates is also commemorated on the York Place United Free Church War Memorial, Perth; the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, War Memorial and Roll of Honour; and the Kendal War Memorial.