PATERSON, Ernest Alexander
| Service Number: | 2174 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 14th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Numurkah, Victoria, Australia, June 1893 |
| Home Town: | Dandenong, Greater Dandenong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Suicide, No. 1 Command Depot, Number 4 Camp, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom, 8 May 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Australian War Commission Cemetery, Sutton Veny Sutton Veny (St. John) Churchyard (Plot 292A, Row C, Grave No. 19), Wiltshire, Sutton Veny (St John) Churchyard, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Wonthaggi North Wonthaggi Honor Roll WW1 |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2174, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Jun 1915: | Involvement Private, 2174, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wandilla embarkation_ship_number: A62 public_note: '' | |
| 17 Jun 1915: | Embarked Private, 2174, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wandilla, Melbourne | |
| 24 Feb 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 59th Infantry Battalion | |
| 17 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 15th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 25 Jan 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 14th Field Artillery Brigade |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 8th May.... Ernest Alexander Paterson was born at Numurkah, Victoria in 1893. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 5th March, 1915 as a 21 year old, single, Miner from Dandenong, Victoria.
Private Ernest Alexander Paterson embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Wandilla (A62) on 17th June, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Battalion, 6th Reinforcements.
Private Paterson was admitted to Government Hospital at Alexandria, Egypt on 11th August, 1915 – cause not yet determined. He was transferred to Convalescent Camp at Alexandria on 3rd September, 1915, recovering from Ptomine Poisoning (food poisoning). Mrs E. Paterson was advised that her son was in the Egyptian Government Hospital suffering from ptomaine poisoning and was doing well, having gone to Raseltin Convalescent Hospital.
Private Paterson was transferred to Overseas Base at Mustapha on 20th September, 1915 then transferred from Alexandria to Sarhi Camp, Lemnos on 11th October, 1915. He disembarked at Alexandria on 7th January, 1916 (assuming he was sent to Gallipoli & returned to Alexandria after the evacuation of Gallipoli).
Private Paterson was transferred from 7th Battalion to 59th Battalion on 24th February, 1916 & joined the Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir.
Private Paterson was transferred to 5th Division Artillery at Tel-el-Kebir on 17th March, 1916. His rank was changed to Gunner & he was posted to 58th Battery. Gunner Paterson was transferred to 60th Battery on 2nd May, 1916 at Ferry Post.
Gunner Paterson arrived in France from Alexandria on 24th June, 1916 & was transferred to 25th Field Artillery Brigade in the field on 9th July, 1916.
Gunner Paterson was transferred to 14th Field Artillery Brigade on 24th January, 1917 & posted to 54th Battery.
Gunner Paterson proceeded on leave on 14th April, 1917 & rejoined from leave on 1st May, 1917.
Gunner Paterson was sent sick to 8th Australian Field Ambulance on 5th June, 1917 with Adenitis (inflammation or infection of lymph nodes or “glands” in the body). He was transferred to Hospital in Rouen then transferred to Hospital Ship on 25th June, 1917 & was admitted to Tooting Military Hospital, London, England on 26th June, 1917 suffering from inflammation of connective tissues of left groin, severe. Gunner Paterson was transferred to Holborn Military Hospital, Mitcham on 20th July, 1917 with a left groin abscess. He was transferred to 1st A.A.H. (Australian Auxiliary Hospital) at Harefield on 24th August, 1917 where he was on furlo until 7th September, 1917.
Gunner Paterson was posted to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth on 16th September, 1917. He was transferred to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 12th December, 1917 then transferred to No. 4 Command Depot at Weymouth on 1st March, 1918.
Gunner Paterson was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 5th April, 1918 (in readiness for return to War Front).
Gunner Ernest Alexander Paterson was sent sick to Group Clearing Hospital at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on 18th April, 1918 with Influenza.
Gunner Ernest Alexander Paterson died at 7.30 a.m. on 8th May, 1918 at No. 1 Command Depot, Number 4 Camp, Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire by shooting himself through the head with a rifle (Gunshot wound to head – self-inflicted).
A Coroner’s Inquest was held on 9th May, 1918 at the Military Hospital Sutton Veny, Wiltshire (witness statements can be found in my research on the website –see link below). The verdict handed down by F. A. P. Sylvester, Coroner – “Death from a gunshot wound in the head and that he took his own life by shooting himself, and that there is insufficient evidence of his state of mind at the time”.
Gunner Ernest Alexander Paterson was buried on 11th May, 1918 in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England where 140 other WW1 Australian Soldiers & 2 Australian Nurses are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/n---q.html
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