| Accession Number | P09291.303 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Digital print |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c December 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait 3101 Private (Pte) Thomas Alan Coats, 50th Battalion. A bank clerk from Unley, ...
Description
Studio portrait 3101 Private (Pte) Thomas Alan Coats, 50th Battalion. A bank clerk from Unley, South Australia, prior to enlistment, he embarked with the 8th Reinforcements from Adelaide on 16 December 1916 aboard HMAT Berrima (A35) for Devonport, England. He trained with the 15th and 13th Training Battalions in England and also qualified as an instructor at the Bombing School, Tidworth before joining his battalion on the Western Front near Ploegsteert, Belgium. Pte Coats was appointed Lance Corporal in early July 1917 and promoted to Temporary Corporal (Cpl) a month later. Cpl Coats was killed in action near Zonnebeke, Belgium, on 27 September 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres, Menin Gate Memorial. He was aged 21 years.