Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Dr. James Harold Patterson, of Tallangatta, died on Friday morning, at Tallangatta, after an illness of a month, the cause of death being heart failure follow ing on influenza. Dr. Patterson was a son of a well-known  contractor of Hobart. He entered the Melbourne Grammar School in 1888, and graduated M.B. and Ch.M. at Edinburgh in 1897. He served in the South African war as a lieutenant of the Fifth Victorian Contingent, and was promoted to captain. He was mentioned in despatches on July 20. 1902, for having "proceeded under fire to within 70 yards of the enemy in order to assist wounded men, and remained under close fire for over two hours, and, though constantly shot at, continued to attend to the wound ed, and remained behind with them when the patrol withdrew, though he was with out red cross brassard." He was awarded the Queen's medal with four clasps.

On returning from South Africa, Dr. Patterson retained his interest in military matters, and was an active member of the Australian Army Medical Corps, being captain in the 16ih Light Horse. Dr. Patterson, who leaves a widow and three children, was very popular in the Tallangatta Valley and throughout the mountains of the Upper Murray district. He was medical officer to 16th L. H. and also for the cadets in this area.