Prisoner of war souvenir ring : Lieutenant S E Bates, 11 Machine Gun Comany, AIF

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number RELAWM11741
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Copper, White metal
Maker Unknown
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Copper ring made from a coin, with white metal heart superimposed on the front face. There is corrosion on the bottom of the ring. The inside of the ring bears the date '1912' and other writing that is warped and illegible.

History / Summary

Souvenir ring associated with the service of Lieutenant Sidney Edgar Bates. Bates enlisted as a private in the AIF on 28 January 1916. His service number was 22. He embarked overseas on board HMAT Borda on 5 June as a Lance Corporal, with the service number 22, with 11 Machine Gun Company. On 14 October he was promoted to sergeant. Bates was sent to officer cadet school in December 1916 and on 27 April was commissioned a second lieutenant. On 2 July 1917 Bates was admitted to hospital with a gun shot wound to his head. He rejoined his unit in August. In October he was promoted to lieutenant. On 4 April 1918 Bates was wounded a second time, in the head and shoulder. He left England to return to Australia on SS Wiltshire on 4 July 1919. This ring was made by a German prisoner of war, and purchased from him by Bates.