Henry Bates was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England in 1895, to parents Henry and Sarah Bates. He immigrated to Australia and lived in Harcourt, Victoria, working as a labourer. He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Army on 20 June, 1916 at the age of 22, and embarked for war on the 19 September 1916 on the ‘Commonwealth’. War took him to France by 1917 where he spent 2 years in the 2nd M G Battalion and was promoted to Sergeant. Henry was discharged on the 26 Dec 1920 and made his way home to Australia and then onto Ipswich where he met Pearl Gertrude Brown.
Formal wedding portrait of Henry Bates and Pearl Gerturde Brown, Ipswich, 1923 (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
Henry (28 yrs) and Pearl (26 yrs) married on the 15th August, 1923 in a small and quiet wedding, celebrated at the home of the bride’s mother in Hawthorn Street, Ipswich. Henry was the youngest son of Mrs Sarah Bates, Birmingham, England and Pearl Gertrude Brown the second daughter of Mrs Isabella Brown of Ipswich formerly of Milbong. The Congregational minister of North Ipswich, Rev. Jones officiated. Pearl wore an ivory crepe-de-chene dress beautifully embroidered and hemstitched with a lovely hat of white satin, instead of a wreath and veil. Her gift to the bridegroom, Henry, was a gold ring and tie pin. Henry’s gift to Pearl was a gold brooch. The Groom’s niece was bridesmaid, while the brother of the bride was best man. A grand meal was held after the ceremony with a two tiered wedding cake enjoyed by all. After the photographs the happy couple left for their future home in North Ipswich.
Empire Fruit Market, corner of Brisbane & Waghorn Streets, Ipswich, 1926? (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
Henry and Pearl opened the Empire Fruit Market on the corner of Brisbane and Waghorns Streets, Ipswich in 1923 – 1933. During this time they started their family and moved to Henderson Street, Booval. Henry and Pearl had five children; Ralph, Isabella, Ruth, Grace and Colin.
Christening of Grace Bates, Ipswich, 1930 (Image courtesy of Picture Ipswich)
By 1937 the family had left Ipswich and moved to a residence in Sandgate. Pearl passed away aged 57 years in April, 1954. Henry passed away aged 82 years in August, 1977. They are both buried in the Bald Hills, Sandgate Cemetery.
(Information taken from The Queensland Times, Marriage, 17 August, 1923; The Queensland Times, Wedding, Bates – Brown, 17 August, 1923; Ancestry.com library edition)