Walter Pattison
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Both Walter Pattison and Elizabeth Hall were natives of Retford. The couple married in 1887 and by the end of that year had a son named after his father, Walter. They lived at Bottom Lane, Clarborough, Nottinghamshire, at the start of their marriage where Walter senior worked in a tannery. In 1891 they had their second son, Thomas. Sometime after 1901 the eldest son, Walter, enlisted in the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters, Notts and Derby Regiment. In 1911, when Thomas was making his living as a blacksmith's striker in an iron foundry, Walter was serving in India. When war was declared, Thomas joined the army, the 8th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment. Their parents must have been devastated when not only one, but both of their sons were reported killed whist fighting for their country.
1911 census shows that Walter was in the 1st Battalion Sherwood Foresters serving in India. The 1st Battalion returned from Bombay to U.K., landing at Plymouth 2 October 1914. They then moved to Hursley Park and came under orders of 24th Brigade in 8th Division and then landed at Le Havre in France 5 Nov 1914. Judging by his location and date of death, Walter probably died fighting at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10 -12 March 1915) although he was initially reported missing in action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Pas de Calais.
His brother Thomas Pattison was killed in action in France on 3 July 1916. A cousin, William Pattison, the son of Walter's paternal uncle, Alfred Pattison and his wife Charlotte, served with the 1/8th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (78 Private) and was killed in action on 24 April 1915. He was buried in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC additional information:- 'Son of Walter and Elizabeth Pattison, of 44, Tiln Rd., Retford, Notts.' Retford Times, 27 August 1915: 'Pte Walter Pattison 'We much regret to record the death of another brave Retford man in the person of Private W Pattison of the 1st Sherwood Foresters. He was killed on March 12th, but at the time was reported missing. The uncertainty as to his fate caused his parents and friends much anxiety and his death was not confirmed until 17th August, when a letter was received by his mother through the Enquiry Department of the British Red Cross who have spared no efforts to obtain definite information about the man. Private Pattison was killed at Neuve Chapelle. He joined the Sherwood Foresters in December 1906 and was in India 6½ years. He came from India last October and spent four days leave at home with his parents Mr and Mrs Pattison at 4 Tiln Road, Retford. He was 27 years of age. His father, Mr W Pattison who has been employed at Messrs Ashworth’s Bellam Mills for the last 29 years, served seven years in the Army and was in India six tears. The late Private Pattison has a brother now serving in Kitchener’s Army now stationed at Whitley Common. The first intimation of the death of Private Pattison was received in a letter from Private C Marsh who wrote:- “I was very sorry for your poor lad. He did some splendid work. He was a despatch carrier and when he got killed five of them went out for their companies rations, only one returned and he was wounded.' Research by Colin Dannatt
