Sydney F Bates

Sydney F Bates

Sydney F Bates was born in Lanark Village, Ontario on May 16, 1897 the son of WG (Geo) and Elizabeth Jane Bates. (McCreary). Syd enlisted for WWI in Montreal on Sept 23, 1915 with the 73rd Infantry Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force.

After training in Canada Syd was sent overseas arriving England in Oct , 1916.  In May,1917 he was transferred to the 75th battalian of the 4th Canadian division.

On Aug 9, 1917, near Lens, France, Syd suffered a shrapnel wound to his right leg.  He spent the next 4 months in hospitals in England.  Following his release from hospital he was put on light, clerical duties until the war ended.

After the war under the Soldier Settlement Board Syd settled near Sandy Lake, Mb and married Marjorie Campbell of Franklin Mb.  They had 4 sons-Bill, Stan, Vince, and Roy. He later got into the grocery business and opened a store, ‘Bates and Sons’ in Neepawa, Mb.

In 1953, he and Marjorie moved to Dryden, Ontario where he owned the ‘Bates and Smith’ store on Highway 17.  After selling the store in 1959 they lived on Parr Ave, east of town, until 1965 when they moved to Meaford, Ontario.   In 1973, Syd and Marjorie returned to Dryden.  Syd died in 1977.