Grave of English lieutenant-colonel Walter Herbert Paterson (1869-1915) of the East Surrey Regiment at Bedford House Cemetery in Zillebeke, Belgium
Walter Herbert Paterson was born in Woolwich, in 1869, the son of Surgeon Major General H. F. Paterson. He was educated at the Royal Naval School, New Cross and Sandhurst. Paterson was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, in March 1890. He advanced to Lieutenant in March 1892, and Captain in December 1896. He served as Adjutant, January 1898 - December 1901, and served with the Regiment during the Second Boer War from 1902. Paterson advanced to Major in October 1908, and served during the Great War with the Battalion in the French theatre from 5 October 1914. He saw considerable action during the latter stages of 1914, as was testified to by Field Marshal Sir John French when he visited the Battalion in December: ‘As part of the 5th Division you had your share of the fighting whilst retreating after Mons and Le Cateau. At the battle of the Marne you had to attack the most difficult section of the line, and the attack was brilliantly carried out. A week later you were engaged at the Aisne and subjected to incessant German rifle and shell fire from the commanding German position above. Followed by La Bassee, where you were faced by three if not four times your numbers experiencing some of the fiercest fighting of the War. Latterly, in the trench fighting, you have gallantly defended your lines against the most determined attacks and the most vigorous shelling.’ Yet Paterson was to command the 1st East Surreys in far fiercer fighting, namely the Battalion’s epic stand at Hill 60, Ypres, 20-21 April 1915, an action that witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and self-sacrifice, and casualties of seven officers and 106 other ranks killed, and eight officers and 158 other ranks wounded. An action, too, that resulted in the Battalion winning three , two and nine , among other accolades.
Size: 3840px × 5760px
Location: Bedford House Cemetery, Rijselseweg, 8902 Zillebeke, West Flanders, Belgium, Europe
Photo credit: © DE ROCKER / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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