Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James Patterson won the Military Medal for bravery during the war and lost two brothers killed in action. He was the son of Joseph and Fanny Paterson, of Dalby, Queensland.

James was returned to Australia 27 August 1918 due to requests from his parents and a local solicitor to have him returned due to the death of his brothers.

James enlisted at Toowoomba Queensland just after his 18th birthday. In France, during June 1917, he transferred to the 108th Howitzer Battery of 8th Field Artillery Brigade. His brother William Patterson of the 9th Battalion was killed near Ypres in September 1917. James was awarded a Military Medal for his bravery in the same area on 9 October 1917 at Zonnebeke, for his courage in assisting the Forward Observation Officer, for performing his duties coolly and accurately under very heavy and constant bomabardment.

He was evacuated to England with trench fever a few weeks later, and was still there when his mother wrote another letter to the Military Commandant in Brisbane, on 13th May 1918. The parents had already made several previous requests for one of their sons to be sent home. “…adverting to your letter dated 30th March replying to my application for my sons to be released from Military service and allowed to come home. I regret to note that you cannot see your way clear to do so. Since your reply has been received, I have had official notice that two of my sons have been killed in action, and Signaller James Paterson, No. 20994, 108 Howitzer Battery, 8th FAB, is the only one left. He has not yet attained the age of 21 years and is now my only son living. I trust that bearing in view these later developments you will reconsider the matter and allow his return home. May God grant that you will listen to the pleading of a heart broken mother, I remain yours sincerely, Fanny Paterson.”

Whilst the Military Commandant in Brisbane may have declined Mrs. Patterson’s original request, he did commission a police report, and a copy exists in James’ file. It was prepared by the Inspector of Police at Toowoomba on the 22nd March 1918. A lengthy report by 2062 Constable J.J. O’Brien states “…having interviewed Mrs. Paterson, in reference to her application, she informed me that she has three daughters, Florence aged 18 years earning 1 pound per week, May, aged 16 years earning 12/6 per week, Eva is a school girl aged 14 years, and her husband is a drover earning about 3 pounds per week, all the income being given to Mrs. Paterson, towards the keeping of the home. Mrs. Paterson has two grandchildren in her care, Sydney Eccles aged 8 years, and Margery Eccles aged 4 years, the mother of these children is dead, and owing to the high cost of living and clothing, she will not be able to keep her three daughters, husband, two grandchildren, and herself on 4/12/6 a week, without some assistance. Prior to her three sons enlisting she was in receipt of 9 pounds per week from the whole of them.

Mrs. Paterson states she is subject to fits and bad health, and would like the return of her two sons to Australia (Joseph and James) and if only one of her sons is recommended for return, she would prefer the latter.

I consider the circumstances of Mrs. Paterson would warrant the return of at least one of her sons to Australia for the following reasons, (1) the extra expense on account of her own ill health, (2) the two daughters not earning sufficient to keep themselves, (3) the additional expense of the two grandchildren being dependant on her……”

This was supported by his police Sergeant, name not legible, who stated “…she is not a strong woman and is subject to fits. These three sons brought home their wages to her when at home. The loss of this has materially altered the circumstances of the family.”

After Mrs. Paterson’s 2nd request of 13 May 1918, a Victor Drury, solicitor of Dalby Queensland also wrote a similar letter as Mrs. Paterson’s, and forwarded it to the Honourable L.E. Groom, Federal Minister for Works and Railways, seeking his support in an application to the Minister of Defence. His letter explained the loss of the two brothers, and requested James’ return or at least that he be placed out of the danger zone, he closed by saying “…every casualty list brings sadness to this town and district. On Friday next, I am going out to Bell (Qld) to unveil a monument to the memory of the many boys who have gone from that district.”

This letter was forwarded by Mr. Groom to the Mr. T. Trumble, Secretary of the Department of Defence, (a brother of Hugh Trumble the Australian cricketer). Victor Drury, the humble solicitor from Dalby did great work on behalf of Mrs. Paterson, following the matter up on several occasions, and he more than likely did it freely. The Maranoa Recruiting Committee also wrote a similar letter to the Minister of Defence on the 17 May 1918, which may also have been instigated by Victor Drury.

By late May the Military Commandant of Brisbane had recommended to the Minister of Defence in favour of James’ return, and by mid-June the Department of Defence had cabled the Commandant, AIF HQ London with the message “Please return 20994 Signaller James Paterson, 108 Howitzer Battery, 8th Field Artillery Brigade, for discharge, family reasons.”

James was eventually discharged in Australia on 9 November 1918, two days before the end of the war in Europe, leaving behind two brothers who had lost their lives in France and Belgium. He passed away in 1964.