Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

19th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F.

He was 29 and the son of John George and Lucy Ann Paterson, of Cobden St., Westport, New Zealand.

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”

Harold Walter Paterson was born at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia in mid-1889 to parents John George & Lucy Ann Paterson (nee Lucas).  

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 14th July, 1915 at Keswick, South Australia as a 26 year old, single, Labourer. His next of kin was listed as his mother – Mrs L. Paterson, West Port, West Coast, New Zealand.

Private Harold Walter Paterson, Service number 2817, embarked from Adelaide, South Australia on HMAT Star of England (A15) on 21st September, 1915 with the 16th Infantry Battalion, 9th Reinforcements & disembarked on 28th October, 1915.

On 8th January, 1916 Private Paterson was taken on strength of “Fd Refn” at Ismalia.

He was transferred & taken on strength of 48th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir on 13th March, 1916. He was transferred to 12th Infantry Brigade Machine Gun Company on 19th March, 1916 & was taken on strength the same day.

Private Paterson was marched out to Machine Gun Training Depot on 25th May, 1916.

On 29th May, 1916 Private Paterson was transferred to 16th Battalion & was taken on strength of 16th Battalion at Serapeum on the same day from Machine Gun Company.

He proceeded from Alexandria on 1st June, 1916 to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 9th June, 1916.

Private Harold Walter Paterson was wounded in action on 10th August, 1916 with an injury to his Knee. He was admitted to 3rd Casualty Clearing Station on 10th August, 1916 & transferred to Ambulance Train on 11th August, 1916. Private Paterson was admitted to 10th General Hospital at Rouen, France on 12th August, 1916. He was marked for transfer to England on 17th August, 1916 & embarked from Havre, France on 18th August, 1916 on Hospital Ship Maheno with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to right knee.

On 19th August, 1916 Private  Paterson was admitted to The Lord Derby Way Hospital, Warrington, England with G.S.W. Knee. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Synovitis re Quartriceps” “No wound (Contusion).” He was discharged on 14th September, 1916.

Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire. Later Training & Convalescing Units were combined under the one Command Depot.

He reported at No. 1 Command Depot at Perham Downs, Wiltshire on 16th September, 1916 from Hospital. Private Paterson was granted Furlough on 18th September, 1916 & reported back from Furlough on 4th October, 1916. He was medically classified “A” (Fit for active service).

Private Paterson was marched out to No. 4 Command Depot at Wareham on 3rd November, 1916 then marched in to No.3 Camp at Woolwich on the same day.

On 11th November, 1916 Private Paterson proceeded overseas to France & was marched in to 4th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 13th November, 1916.

He proceeded on detachment to 2nd Australian Divisional Headquarters on 7th February, 1917 for Permanent Base Duties.

** Following was entered after entry dated 23rd February, 1917 on Casualty Form – Active Service: “Previously reported marched out to Woolwich 13.10.16 from No. Command Depot. Now advised still in Depot at Perham Downs. Marched in from Wareham 2.12.16.”

Private  Paterson was admitted to 7th Australian Field Ambulance in France on 12th February, 1917 with Trench Feet. He was transferred to D.R.S. (Divisional Rest Station) on 23rd February, 1917.

On 19th June, 1917 Private Paterson reported sick in the Field. He was admitted to Casualty Clearing Station on 19th June, 1917 with Venereal then transferred to 39th General Hospital at Havre, France on 24th June, 1917 – N.Y.D. slight (Not Yet Determined/Diagnosed). Private Paterson was discharged on 15th August, 1917. Total Period 58 days.

He was admitted to 4th A.D.B.D. at Havre, France on 15th August, 1917 from Hospital.

Private  Paterson reported sick on 5th September, 1917. He was admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Havre on the same day – N.Y.D.  Private Paterson was transferred to England on 17th September, 1917 with a Bunion on right Toe.

On 18th September, 1917 Private Paterson was admitted to Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol, England with a Bunion on his Toe. The Hospital Admissions form from Orthopaedic Centre, Beaufort War Hospital, Bristol recorded “Entered Hospital with toe greatly inflamed & ulcerated surface on ____side. Explored under anaesthetic …..Patient began to show marked nervous symptoms & developed epileptic seizures affecting principally the right side, beginning at leg & extending up the whole side when the patient would lose consciousness for a carrying length of time…….”

He was transferred to The County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury on 29th November, 1917. The Hospital Admissions form recorded the following: “Hypochondriacal, feeble minded, attacks of Jacksonia….April 1918 – Sphincter loss speech…..”

[The Medical History Sheet for Private Harold Walter Paterson which was completed on enlistment recorded under “Slight defects, but not sufficient to cause rejection” – “has a bunion on Right foot not detrimental.”]

A Medical Report was completed on Private Harold Walter Paterson on 7th December, 1917 at The County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans. His disability was recorded as “Feeblemindedness & Epilepsy. Cerebro Mano-plegia".  The place & date of disability was not known. “States enlisted July 1915. Sent to Egypt 1915 (Sept) & to France June 1916. Wounded in Aug 1916 for about 7 weeks. Back to France in Dec 1916. Trench foot in Jan 1917 but was not sent to England. Several months ago contracted syphilis and had a course of “606”. Later developed a septic bunion of right foot & was sent to Bristol. Developed epilepsy & was sent to Napsbury Nov 29th 1917.”  Private Paterson’s present condition was listed as “Slightly feebleminded & hypochondriacal. Liable to attacks of Jacksonian epilepsy commencing in right foot. Paresis of right peroneal muscles. Transient paresis of right arm. Operation wound on right foot.” The Officer in charge of the case recommended that Private Paterson be discharged as permanently unfit Repatriation. The Medical Board decided Private Paterson should have a change to Australia – “Hospital O.P.”

Mrs L. Paterson, Queen Street, Westport, was advised by Defence Department on 19th April, 1918 that her “Son No. 2817 Harold Paterson Mental Case seriously ill 19/4/18.”

Base Records wrote to Mrs L. Paterson, Queen Street, Westport, New Zealand on 1st May, 1918 with the following: “I beg to inform you that cabled advice has been received from London stating that your son, No. 2817, Private H. W. Paterson, 16th Battalion, was admitted to County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, England, on 29/11/17, as a mental case. The reason for this report being delayed is not known. You will already have been advised by the New Zealand Military Authorities that the above soldier was seriously ill on 19/4/18.  A progress report is expected and should same come to hand you will be immediately notified.”

Private Harold Walter Paterson died at 7.30 pm on 17th May, 1918 at County of Middlesex War Hospital, Napsbury, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England from Syphilitic Endenteritis Cerebral softening (Thrombatic).

He was buried in Hatfield Road Cemetery, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England – Grave number B 5. This is now recorded by CWGC as Plot number - Mil. B. 5. and now has a Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)

https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/st-albans---hatfield-road.html