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Clement Horace Bate - Information

Clement Horace Bate was born in Tilba Tilba on the 6th of February 1886. He continued to reside in the area, with his wife Gladys Mary Bate and worked as a farmer. He also served as a Commissioned Officer in the 11th Light Horse Regiment in Goulburn. Clement joined the Light Horse in 1911, and was commissioned as a Lieutenant, carrying out training duties and was even quartered at Duntroon for the official opening of Canberra. After Clement and Gladys got married, Gladys became very ill. At this time, the war commenced, and Clement'€™s Commanding Officer advised him to delay his enlistment until she had recovered. Gladys started to feel better in early 1915, while Clement was stationed on guard duties at the Port of Sydney. He then went home to Tilba Tilba, to attend to his farm, before being assigned to Menangle Park Camp, where he trained Light Horse recruits. Here, his Commanding Officer refused permission for Clement to go overseas for war service. Feeling stifled, he resigned his commission to enlist as a Private in an infantry battalion. Clement joined the AIF on the 1st of May 1918 in Sydney. He trained at the M & D Depot in Liverpool, and left for war service as a Voyage Only Sergeant on the 19th of June 1918. While Clement went off to war, Gladys left Tilba Tilba for Campbelltown, staying with a Mrs Russell.

Clement disembarked in London in late August. He reverted to Private, and was marched out to the 9th Training Battalion in Fovant. He was then allotted to the 35th Battalion and was appointed Acting Corporal on the 3rd of September. He was then on command at the School of Instruction before attending the Officers Cadet School. On the 2nd of November, Clement was taken on strength to the Australian Flying Corps, and trained as a pilot at No. 2 School of Aeronautics at Oxford. After the war ended, Clement was posted to the 5th Training Squadron in early January 1919. He completed his training and was made a 2nd Lieutenant, and on the 3rd of May was sent back to Australia. He was discharged from the AIF in September 1919.

When he returned to Australia, Clement maintained his commitment to the military. In 1920, he was placed as a Lieutenant on the Reserve List of Officers. He was retired in 1928, but with the advent of the Second World War, his reserve status was reactivated. In 1941, Clement again retired, and passed away in 1959.