Arthur John Bather

Lurking in the texts of a number of books relating to Ralph Bagnold and the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) is A J Bather (aka Bather Bay or "Tom" Bather) but rarely does he make it to indexes of the books or get a mention by his full name.

One of the last class of WW1 Sandhurst graduates, Arthur John Bather was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenantt with the Hampshire Regiment on the 20th December 1918. He later transferred to the Tanks Corps and would be in Sollum, Egypt with 3rd Armoured Car Company in 1921. This unit was using 1914 Pattern Rolls-Royce armoured cars inherited from the Duke of Westminster's Squadron.

Bather introduced Lt Victor Christian Holland, Royal Signals Corps, to desert exploration by car. Holland in turn introduced Ralph Bagnold. Holland is generally referred to in books simply as V C Holland and I'm not aware of any that give his full name.

While Holland and Bagnold continued exploring the desert (film available to view via the British Film Institute), Bather was back in the UK working for the inter war Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment and then as Adjutant of the Mechanical Warfare Experimental Establishment.

Seconded to the Foreign Office and working with the Egyptian Frontiers Administration, Bather would be retained as Second in Command of the Camel Corps  and Light Car Patrol. He was in Siwa Oasis when the very first patrol of Bagnold's newly formed LRDG arrived in 1940. Bather and his men assisting the LRDG men complete their mission.

LONDON GAZETTE 21 January 1919

REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned Gentlemen Cadets, from the R. Mil. Coll., to be 2nd Lts. With effect from the 20th December, 1918: —

Hampshire Regiment:—

Arthur John Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31140/supplement/1185

 

Sandhurst Collection Record

https://sandhurstcollection.co.uk/people/3901308-cadet-arthur-bather-register-entry

 

LONDON GAZETTE 25 June 1920

Tanks Corps

The undermentioned 2nd Lts. are apptd. to the Corps, 20 May 1920, with seniority from the dates specified against the names : —

L. D. Crocker (Devon. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. J. Bather ,(Hamps. R.). 20 Dec. 1918.

A. W. Billing (Hamps. R.). 16 Jul. 1919.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31956/supplement/6984

 

Census 19 June 1921

Sollum Garrison, Egypt.

Lt Arthur John Bather

 

LONDON GAZETTE 14 September 1923

The undermentioned to be Lts., 15th Sept. 1923, with seniority as stated:—

Lt. A. J. Bather, from Hampshire R. 20th Dec. 1920.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32862/page/6199

 

LONDON GAZETTE 29 July 1927

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appt. is made:—

Tank & Tracked Transport Experimental Establishment.

Spec. Appt. (Cl. GG) —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps. 20th July 1927

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33298/page/4910

 

LONDON GAZETTE 16 August 1927

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather is secd, whilst holding an appt. at the Tank and Tracked Transport Exptl. Estabt. 20th July 1927.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33303/page/5333

 

LONDON GAZETTE 11 October 1929

ESTABLISHMENTS.

The undermentioned appts. are made. 1st Oct. 1929: —

Lt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, from Exptl. Offr. (C1. GG), to be Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33542/page/6477

 

LONDON GAZETTE 15 October 1929

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Lt. A. J. Bather remains secd, whilst Adjt., Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Oct. 1929. 

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33543/page/6549

 

LONDON GAZETTE 22 January 1932

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

The undermentioned Lts., to be Capts. 30th Nov. 1931, and remain secd. : —

A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33792/page/487

 

LONDON GAZETTE 03 April 1934

ESTABLISHMENTS

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, as Adjt. Mech. Warfare Exptl. Estabt. 1st Apr.. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34038/page/2186

 

LONDON GAZETTE 08 May 1934

The undermentioned are restd. to the estabt. 1st Apr. 1934: —

ROYAL TANK CORPS.

Capt. A. J. Bather.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34048/page/2939

 

LONDON GAZETTE 20 November 1934

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is secd, for serv. under the Foreign Office. 26th Oct. 1934.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34106/page/7440

 

Zerzura Club 1935 Meeting

https://www.fjexpeditions.com/frameset/zerzuraclub.htm

 

LONDON GAZETTE 14 May 1937

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Capt. A. J. Bather is restd. to the estabt. 1st May 1937.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34398/page/3185

 

LONDON GAZETTE 11 January 1938

The undermentioned are granted local rank whilst empld. with the British Mil. Mission, Egyptian Army, 1st Jan. 1938:—

Maj. L. H. C. Hatton, O.B.E., M.C., Res. of Off., I5th/i9th H., to be local Col.

(Leonard Horace Charles Hatton)

Capt. A. J. Bather, R. Tank Corps, to be local Maj.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34472/page/193

 

LONDON GAZETTE 05 August 1938

ROYAL TANK CORPS

Major?

A. J. Bather

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34538/supplement/5027

 

Who’s  Who Le Mondain Egypt 1941

BRITISH  MILITARY  MISSION  TO  THE  EGYPTIAN  ARMY

Frontier  Force

Col.  R.H.C.  Hatton,  O.B.E.,  M.C. ;

Lt.  Col.  A.J. Bather,  R.T.C.

 

BATHER,  Major  A.J.,  R.T.C.,  attache,  British

Military  Mission  to  the  Egyptian  Army,  7,  rue

Amir  Fouad,  Zamalek,  [II]  56765,  Caire.

https://archive.org/stream/TheEgyptianWhosWho1941/LeMondainEgyptien1941.PartI_djvu.txt

 

LONDON GAZETTE 228 March 1941

OBE

To be Additional Officers of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order: —

Major (local Lieutenant-Colonel) Arthur John Bather (17918), Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35120/supplement/1866

 

National Army Museum Collection

1994-02-156

Five letters, two in Polish with translations, written to Major A J Bather, HQ British Advisory Staff, Polish Resettlement Corps, Feb to Mar 1948.

 

Marriage 14 Oct 1948 London, England

Chelsea

Honoria Mary Carter/Sharples

 

LONDON GAZETTE 15 April 1949

ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS.

RTR.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), retires on ret. pay, 16th Apr. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38586/supplement/1887

 

LONDON GAZETTE 18 November 1949

R.T.R.

Maj. A. J. BATHER, O.B.E. (17918), having attained the age limit of liability to recall, ceases to belong to the Res. of Offrs., 24th Oct. 1949.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38762/supplement/5463