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PATERSON, Arthur
 | Rank: Sergeant Year of death: 1915 Date of birth: 1882 Date of death: 26/4/1915 Place of death: Yser Canal Service number: Z/1460 Regiment: 4th Rifle Brigade Medals: Cemetery location: Section G Where remembered?: Menin Gate Ypres |
Biographical Information
Arthur was born in Rochester, Kent, son of Walter Charles and Kate. He was the 4th of 7 children. He was a pupil at St Martin’s, leaving in 1896 to work in Scarborough Borough Engineer’s office. He later moved to Portsmouth and worked as a comedian and actor. He enlisted in 1914. During the Battle of St Julien he was killed by enemy shellfire. A letter to his father from a fellow sergeant said “He was killed on 26/4/1915 about 1.00 pm while on observation duty. The Regiment at the time were lying in support of the French Turco (Morrocan) troops who were making an attack. Pat and a party were sent along the Yser Canal to watch the advance and report anything to headquarters. From what I gathered, Pat was continuously assisting the sentries in observation, and while doing so a shrapnel she’ll burst overhead killing him and wounding the sentry. One bullet penetrated his brain and another his shoulder. The same afternoon he was buried alongside the once beautiful Yser Canal, and his grave is marked by two crosses.