Information Category | 08-03-08 04:12 GMT | Posted by Ian Chicken
Captain William Bate
Soldier
Took over command from Nicholls in 1828, and stayed in command for 10 years.
He was the Adjutant of the Royal Marine Base in Chatham, before going to
Ascension.
In all his time there he never left the island once.
While on the island on 3rd April 1829 he renamed ‘Garrison’ to its
present name ‘Georgetown’. He had two buildings constructed for his own use,
Bates Cottage (Now demolished) and North East Cottage.
As soon as he took control he set about improving the life on the island, The
quarters that the men lived in were described as “an assemblage of wretched low
hovels” and other buildings where not much better. The water crews up Green
Mountain still lived in Caves. And some roads in a bad state of affairs.
The first point he took note of was the water situation (see
Quest
for Water).
He rebuilt Georgetown, from stone taken from the area known as ‘Regent Square’
to construct the buildings.
he also had built the Turtle Ponds (Still in existence today).
Apart from his military work he also held prayers on a Sunday, and he also
opened the islands first school in July 1830
He continued unabated to build on the island, even though he found some
decision on expenses inexplicable. The Mountain Barracks where built just above
the Farm on Green Mountain and a Hospital also completed.
The Barracks did not last for very long due to its position, it was damp and as
such by the 1860’s a new one (The Red Lion) was built and the original became a
cow shed.
The stone buildings ordered by Bate are still standing to this day, The
Hospital, The Barracks (Exiles).
Bate was also in command during the fateful year of 1838 when the Aetna (25),
Bonetta (30), Forester (5), and Raven (15) came to the island with numerous sick
or dying people.
Of one of the outbreaks it spread to the garrison and killed 25 of them,
including Bate himself who died and was buried on the island on 15th
April 1838.
Notable
Dates:
1828 - 1838 Commandant of Ascension
1829
Gave Georgetown, Ascension its name
1830
Started the first Island School