Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Harry Paten served twice in The South African (Boer) War. First service was as a Sergeant S.N. 81, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry. Second service was as a Squadron Sergeant-Major S.N. 461, 7th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse.

When he first enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Sergeant H. Paten, single, Ipswich. Newspaper articles indicate prior to his enlistment he was serving with the Queensland Defence Force and was appointed to the rank of Sergeant in C Company Queensland Mounted Infantry, having passed his sergeants exam in 1898.

He served the full tour of the 1st QMI returning to Brisbane where he was discharged on 23 Jan 1901. 

In 1902 he was serving on the permanent staff of the Queensland Defence Force as a Sergeant when he enlisted again. On his Attestation Paper, dated 18 May 1902, it is noted that; he was born at Ashgrove, Brisbane, and was 31 years 9 months of age; he was single and a soldier; his N.O.K. was his father Jesse Paten, Ashgrove, Brisbane; and he had previously served in the 1st Contingent.

Harry Paten was born on 10 Jul 1870 at Ashgrove, Brisbane, a son to Jesse Paten and Eliza Paten (nee Jude). His parents had married in NSW and returned to live at his father's residence at Ashgrove. By 1873/74 his parents had separated and his mother returned to NSW and they later divorced in 1876. His father remarried in 1876, ironically his 2nd wife had the same given name of Eliza.

After the war Harry continued to serve with the Commonwealth Military Forces (Qld) and in 1904 was appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 14th Australian Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry). However, in Nov 1904, he resigned his commission. It appears he may have ventured to New Zealand to work with his older brother who had been living there for a few years sourcing the best dairy cattle he could find to send to Queensland.

Harry Paten married Emma Laura Hudson in 1907 in New Zealand and they returned to live in Brisbane where their first child was born in 1907. It appears they again returned to live in New Zealand for a period where a further 2 children were born in 1910 and 1913. They eventually returned to live in Brisbane.

(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 453 and 538; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier 1st and 2nd services; Australian Boer War Memorial- Database bio; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 2 p. 80).