| Regimental number | 270 |
| Place of birth | Adelaide, South Australia |
| School | Sturt Street State School, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Letterpress machinist |
| Address | 253 Flinders Street, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23.9 |
| Height | 5' 8.5" |
| Weight | 137 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, W H Bates, c/o Advertiser Office, Adelaide, South Australia |
| Previous military service | Member for 2 years of the Advertiser Rifle Club; still a member at time of AIF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Sergeant |
| Unit name | 27th Battalion, B Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/44/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Sergeant |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 27th Battalion |
| Other details from Roll of Honour Circular | Was wounded early on the night of the attack (5 August 1916) but refused to be relieved and received fatal wounds during the counter attack nex morning - 4am, 6 August 1916. |
| Fate | Died of wounds |
| Place of death or wounding | Pozieres, Somme Sector, France |
| Date of death | |
| Age at death | 25 |
| Place of burial | Puchevillers British Cemetery (Plot II, Row D, Grave No. 28), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 109 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Commemorated in Payneham Cemetery, Adelaide, South Australia. Parents: William Henry and Rebecca BATES, 22 Loch Street, St Peter's, South Australia. Photo: Brian McLauchlan |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, BATES Ernest William |
