Morton Brown Paton

He served with 10th Bn Prince of Wales's Volunteers South Lancashire Regiment attached to 6th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers.

Article published in the Nottingham Evening Post on 14th August 1915 :- “DEATH OF CAPTAIN PATON. “OLD NOTTINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL BOY. “Captain Morton B. Paton, 10th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment (attached to the 5th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers), was killed in action in Gallipoli on August 7th. He was the youngest son of the late Rev. Dr. J. B. Paton, of Nottingham, and brother of Mr. J. L. Paton, High Master of the Manchester Grammar School. He was a member of the firm of Messrs. A. V. Paton and Co., cotton merchants, of Liverpool, and lived at Bidston. His leisure and energy were freely given to work among boys and young men, among whom he had a strong influence. These activities included the National Home Reading Union, which his father was one of the founders. “Educated at the Nottingham High School and Balliol College, Captain Paton while at Oxford was a member of the University Volunteers. Last November he received a commission in the 10th (Service) Battalion South Lancashire Regiment, and trained with them at Crosby and Heswall. He was promoted captain in April. “He was sent out to the Mediterranean in the spring, and was at first attached to the 6th Lancashire Fusiliers after their heavy loss in officers, but later he was transferred to the 5th Battalion, with which it is believed he was serving when he met his death. He was 44 years of age.” Above article is courtesy of Jim Grudy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918. The Nottingham Guardian on 16th August 1915 reported the death, stating that M B Paton was the brother of J L Paton, High Master of Manchester Grammar School. In The Nottingham Daily Express on 16th August reference was made to Paton’s death by the Reverend Mann preaching at Park Hill Congregational Church. “He was a fine scholar, a successful businessman, a brave soldier of Christ as well as England’s King and a thorough Christian gentleman. Nothing but a keen sense of duty could have induced such a man as Captain Paton to take up arms on behalf of his country. By falling at his post in far distant Gallipoli, he has enriched the moral forces of the nation.”On 18th August the Daily Express went further, describing him as particularly fond of children, “A man who diffused sunshine wherever he went”. “It may be said of him that he not only died for his country, but greatly helped to make it worth dying for.”In the Nottingham Daily Express of 23rd August 1915 further details are given. M B Paton was the youngest son of the family. Educated at Nottingham High School and Balliol College, Oxford, he was in business in Liverpool, partner in the firm of A V Paton and Co, Cotton Merchants. Sir Alfred Vaughan Paton was his uncle and, I believe, an Old Nottinghamian. A memorial service had been held at Birkenhead. He was Nottingham born and bred, educated under Dr Gow and won a Carey Scholarship to Balliol. He entered the cotton business with his uncle, visited the USA on business several times and resided at Bidston, near Birkenhead. He did a lot of good work for the village, especially children. He formed a boys’ cricket club and organised Empire Day celebrations. He was the President of the junior YMCA in Birkenhead, Vice President of the Albert Memorial Industrial School, taking great interest in camps held on the Wirral sea coast each year. He was a respected member of the Cotton Association, Secretary of National Home Reading Union which had been founded by his father. He was a committee member of the WEA. A keen sportsman, he played tennis, badminton, golf and rowing. He originally enlisted as a special constable on the outbreak of war, but joined the South Lancashire Regiment in November 1914, being promoted to captain in April 1915. He was sent to Gallipoli where he was attached to the Lancashire Fusiliers in May, commanding “A” Company of the 6th battalion. A memorial service was held at St James’ with the address given by J C Neil, Paton’s Congregationalist pastor. The “Dead March” from Saul was played, as well as the National Anthem and the Last Post. His brother, J L Paton, gave a moving tribute.