| Regimental number | 515 |
| Place of birth | Nyora, Victoria |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Kyabram Hotel, Kyabram, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 5' 11" |
| Weight | 152 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Richard Mates, Kyabram Hotel, Kyabram, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 31st Battalion, B Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/48/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A62 Wandilla on |
| Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A41 Bakara on |
| Two ships left from Melbourne carrying the 31st Battalion Headquarters and Companies A, B, C and D: HMAT A62, 'Wandilla', on 9 November 1915 and HMAT A41, 'Bakara', on 5 November 1915. It is not possible from the Embarkation Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 31st Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death | 25 |
| Place of burial | Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row L, Grave No. 77), France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 119 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Richard and Sarah MATES; husband of Dorothy Edith MATES, 7 Hopetoun Street, Camberwell, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, ex-HMT 'Wandilla', 7 December 1915. Found guilty, 11 April 1916, of conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, in that he failed to report for duty at Duntroon Plateau, 11 April 1916: awarded 2 hours' Pack Drill by Captain E. Murphy. Found guilty, 9 May 1916, of breaking out of the ranks without permission while on the march at Ferry Post, 9 May 1916: awarded 24 hours' Field Punishment No 2 by Major Eckersley. Found guilty, 31 May 1916, of (1) being absent from parade, (2) refusing to obey an order given by a superior officer at Moascar, 30 May 1916: awarded 168 hours' Field Punishment No 2 by Commanding Officer. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 16 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 19 July 1916. Previous report of missing, now, 28 July 1916, to be reported as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Buried Eaton Hall Cemetery, Croix Blanche, by Reverend G. Cranston, 20 July 1916. Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, MATES Harold |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
