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Reginald (Reg) was born in Wallaroo on the 20th July 1917. To Archibald and Ruby Stella Chatfield Mills. Archibald (Archie), as a fourteen-year-old had begun working at the Wallaroo Mines as an apprentice carpenter, then later moved to the smelting works until the company ceased operations in 1923. The local paper also documented his later work life as being ‘employment with Messrs Chandler and Co., and T. A. Gunter and Son, of Wallaroo, he was appointed as constructional foreman for the erection of Cresco Fertilisers buildings at Wallaroo. Later he was engaged with the South Australian Railways, and when the change of gauge came into effect, Mr Paterson built the present Port Wakefield Station. Then following an appointment as constructional foreman on the erection in 1927 of the present Wallaroo jetty and is credited with the construction of the pile driving machinery. Other Government contracts followed, after which he entered into his own business as a builder and contractor which today is being carried on by two of his sons’ Archie and Frank.’
Reg was one of ten children including seven sons of which he was the fifth. These included Keith, George Andrew, Archibald Hugh (Archie), Frank, Fred and Bruce Graham, with sisters Elizabeth Annie, Verna and Valma. Reg and his siblings attended the local Kadina Memorial High School before he found work as a labourer. Life was not always easy as Reg had just turned fourteen when his eighteen-year-old sister, Elizabeth died unexpectedly in August ’31. However, life was also very social for young people during this time, with Reg regularly attending ‘coming of age’ parties and featuring in the dancing.
From an early age, Reg proved to be a talented cricketer. He initially played for Wallaroo with the team comprising numerous Paterson young men including Len, Murray, Reg Malcolm and Alan. Later Reg also played for Kadina particularly as a classy bowler but he was also a useful batter throughout the 30’s. He and his brothers, including Alan played in the same team, combining at bat. In a match against Bute the pair took their score past 100, with Reg playing one of his best innings, until he was caught in the slips for 62. The brothers also combined when bowling with Reg taking some good catches from Archie’s bowling. During the winter season, Reg also played football for Kadina, captaining the team whilst playing in the forward lines.
Reg was probably playing his best cricket when WWII began. In March, just prior to him enlisting the local paper described his performance ‘Reg. Paterson played one of his best innings and went merrily on till he was caught in the slips off Brown by Longmire jun. for 62. After this, none of the batsmen troubled the bowlers to any extent.’ The following week another article described that ‘It is with pleasure I have to offer congratulations to Reg. and Alan Paterson on their great partnership, which nearly won the game for their side.’ However, that was to be the break in an exceptional performance. 22-year-old Reg enlisted on the 29th June, 1940 and was given the number SX6909 and allocated to the 2/48th Battalion.
In total, six of Archie and Ruby’s sons served overseas in various branches of His Majesty's Forces during World War II, all of whom safely returned. Fred enlisted to serve in the Army and was wounded at Tobruk. Archibald enlisted in December ’39 with the Airforce as 5535. Aged 26, George, a carpenter who had been serving with the 43rd Battalion for two years, enlisted on the 28th January ’41. He was then discharged to join the RAAF as 28501. 22-year-old Frank enlisted the same day as SX122 in Unit 151 General Transport Coy. And Bruce enlisted in August ’42 as Driver SX25777. Francis Douglas enlisted in September ’43 as 141292, becoming a Leading Aircraftman.
By April ’40 Reg’s brother, Archibald had returned home briefly, with the local Kadina and Wallaroo Times reporting that, already, three of the brothers were then serving. ‘Air Craftsman A. H. Paterson, of No. 1 Technical Squadron, R.A.A.F., who was home on leave during the Easter holidays, returned to Laverton (Victoria) last Friday-week. He is a son of Mr and Mrs A. Paterson, Leonard street, Wallaroo, has been in training at Laverton for several months, likes the work, and finds it most interesting. His brother Fred has joined up with the Second A.I.F. and will be shortly leaving for overseas. Another brother, George, is at present in camp with the militia forces.’
Reg’s early days were spent in the Motor Pavilion of what is now the Royal Adelaide Showgrounds where his ‘bed’ was a straw filled hessian on wooden pallets. He developed a neck abscess which was treated before the battalion trained in the Adelaide Hills before they had brief pre-embarkation leave. Back home, a Farewell Social was held by the Deputy Mayor in honour of those young men who had enlisted. These included SX5030 Privates Eric R. Olds and SX8271 Clift Snodgrass in the 2/48th with Reg and two others, SX4052 Maxwell S. Jones and SX4106 William Dunn.
The 2/48th Battalion finally boarded the Stratheden for the Middle East, in November, arriving on the 17th December. Reg’s battalion then marched to a Staging Camp. During those early days, besides regular army duties was the need to quickly adapt to the locals and army food – which initially caused Reg some ill health. Within months, the 2/48th Battalion was involved in intense conflicts where their reputation for being the most highly decorated but decimated battalion was earned. Jack and Tom were to become one of the respected and famed Rats of Tobruk.
By November ’41 Reg’s parents received the unwanted news that Fred had been wounded in Tobruk. The local paper shared that ‘Mr Fred Paterson, of the A.I.F., a son of Mr and Mrs A. Paterson, of Wallaroo, has been wounded at Tobruk Fred, who is an old scholar of the K.M.H.S., is one of four sons enlisted for overseas services.’
In May ’42 Reg was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and was quickly treated but it was a month before he was able to join his battalion. Unfortunately, within four months he was again being treated, this time for an upper respiratory tract infection.
With their time in the Middle East coming to a closure, Reg had unofficial time ‘sight-seeing’ which attracted a fine. It was fortunate that in February ’43 the battalion returned to Australia via Melbourne and thence home to South Australia for well-earned leave. The Kadina and Wallaroo Times reported in March that ‘After being on active service for over two years, Private Reg. Paterson is home again on leave with his parents. Mr and Mrs A. Paterson, Wallaroo. Another son, Fred, returned about six weeks ago.’
The battalion then headed to Queensland to train in tropical conditions in preparation for serving in New Guinea against a very different enemy. Unfortunately, eczema and a cyst developed under these conditions. A further brief AWL attracted another fine in May ’43 but these became increasingly common in August, September and October, as did the escalating fines and for Reg to also spend 19 days in custody with the loss of pay for those days. Once released he was immediately on his way to Port Moresby to serve in New Guinea, arriving at the end of October. Over the following months Reg contracted malaria numerous times before eventually returning to Townsville in March ’44.
By June Reg’s AWL habit resulted in the issue of a warrant for his arrest, with a serious charge of this being an ‘illegal absence’. He was eventually apprehended at the end of July and held at the Keswick Barracks. A trail was conducted where Reg was found guilty, ordered to serve his sentence and forfeit a huge 125 days’ pay, which was reduced to 102 days. Reg was released from custody early in September and was granted compassionate leave but returned to complete his sentence in November. His dermatitis returned and continued to be treated over the following months until he was transferred to the Loveday Internment Camp in the Riverland.
Reg married Evelyn Alice Mary on the 27th October ’44. Whilst serving at Loveday, Reg’s daughter, Pamela Evelyn was born on the 27th March ’45 at the Queen Victoria Hospital. From evidence given later, Evelyn became unwell after the birth, which prompted a further AWL occurrence and a further District Court Martial in May. The Advertiser made a report of these charges ‘Pte. Reginald Belmont Paterson. AIF. pleaded guilty to having been AWL from April 24 to May 15 then he reported back to his unit. Paterson, In evidence, said that he went AWL because of his wife's illness, and he desired to obtain medical attention. The court closed for consideration ot sentence.’ Little or no compassion was shown, and Reg was inevitably found guilty and further fined and subjected to close arrest. It was obvious that Reg’s war was long over, but his personal war continued until his discharge on the 25th June ’45 from Hampstead. He still carried effects of the war with dysentery, malaria and dermatitis continuing to affect him.
By March ’45, Reg’s family were being lauded for their war involvement with an extensive article in the Port Pirie Recorder. ‘SIX SONS AT WAR Wallaroo Family's Proud Record Mr. and Mrs. Archie Paterson, of Leonard street, Wallaroo, reared six fine sons. All are now at war and have been for several years. Last month "The Recorder" published a paragraph concerning the family of Mr. and Mrs. J. McLachlan, of Port Augusta, which supplied six sons for the forces, and remarked that it must have been a South Australian country record. The Paterson family equals it. Three are in the A.I.F. and three in the R.A.A.F. The brothers on active service are:—Fred (27), Reg (26), and Bruce (21), Flight-Sgt. Archie (34), Leading Aircraftman George (28), and Frank (22). Two of the A.I.F. members saw much service in the Middle East and New Guinea, where Reg suffered badly from the ravages of malaria. He is due to get his discharge tomorrow—first of the family to have done with warfare. Speaking to a representative of "The Recorder" Mrs. Paterson said: "We certainly have had many anxious moments with all the boys away, but they have, got through so far very well. Only one, Fred, has been wounded, and he recovered and returned to action. We, like so many other parents, will be glad when it is all over. But we must wait patiently for that day,"
Later that year Reg returned to play cricket for Kadina, with brothers Len and Murray. All three played creditably with Reg securing 5 wickets for 23 runs off 16 overs; Len with 3 for 28, off 15 overs and Murray sending down 11 overs for 15 runs and two wickets.
Reg periodically returned to the Copper Triangle towns, including for a shearing competition with six others. He came first with a total of 93 points. However, within two years of his discharge, Reg’s 59-year-old father Archibald died on the 27th April ’47. He had sustained a fall from a ladder in January which resulted in a visit to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and not fully recovered. He was interred in the local Wallaroo Cemetery. (Ruby Stella Mills lived to be 78 and died in September ’61).
Living in Flinders Park, Reg found work as a meter reader but in June ’52 was unfortunate to be struck by a buckboard at Flinders Park, sustaining concussion and lacerations, causing him to be admitted to Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment. This accident and the loss of much of his army pay was challenging for the young family. Resultantly, ’54 in the Port Augusta courts Reginald Belmont Paterson, was found guilty of larceny and store breaking at Tarcoola and fined £40.
The extended Paterson family and their friends celebrated with an Invitation dance in the Bute Hall in September 54. A description of the evening appeared in the local paper that ‘Patricia, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Reg. Paterson was very smart in red tulle with white trimming. Jennifer the daughter of Mr and Mrs Alan Paterson looked very charming in pale pink broderie anglaise. Colin is the younger son of Mr and Mrs Eric Paterson.’ The family continued to be involved in the Bute community, including helping to raise funds for the Bute Hospital and supporting the local school fundraising efforts.
Evelyn pre-deceased Reg when, she died on the 29th March ’75. She was buried in the Cummins cemetery. Aged 85, Reg died in Adelaide on the 22nd September, 2002. He was interred in the Centennial Park Cemetery Derrick Gardens, Path 57, Grave 1422B. Reg and his brothers are all remembered on the Lloyd Memorial Welsh Congregational Church Honor Roll at Wallaroo.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.