The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jrah60 · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:45 pm Post subject: John Paterson MA

I came across the following inscription on a headstone in Neilston Cemetery.

Also JOHN PATERSON MA
Died on 15th February 1921
From wounds received at ARRAS April 1917.

I can find no record of him on CWGC or SNWM. I believe he could be a non-comm.
Death Cert. gives cause of death as Meningitis, Bullet Wound of Brain.
Profession Schoolmaster (Army Pensioned) Married to Jean Allan Houston.
He married Jean on 12th June 1907.
Died Bellahouston Hospital Glasgow, Usual residence Schoolhouse Busby. Age 41 years. His father was John Hunter Paterson ex-Baillie of Ayr, where John was born c.1880.
In the 1911 census he is living in the Schoolhouse, Nitshill with Jeanie.
I've checked graduate records for Glasgow Uni., can find no record of him.
There are two intimations of his death in the Southern Press but no mention of his Rank or Regiment.
Before his name can go forward I need to find his Rank & Regiment.
All help would be gratefully received

John

David McNay · Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:09 pm Post subject:

Not sure if you have the Glasgow WW1 Roll, but here are all the John Patersons on it:

PATERSON John Private Black Watch 10 Hutton Drive Govan
PATERSON John Private Gordon Highlanders 4 Newton Street
PATERSON John Private Highland Light Infantry 315 Eglinton Street
PATERSON John Private Royal Scots Fusiliers 16 Colbert Street Bridgeton
PATERSON John Private Seaforth Highlanders 103 Old Govan Road
PATERSON John A Private Royal Army Medical Corps 360 Cumbernauld Road
PATERSON John C Lance Corporal Royal Scots 31 Avenue Road Springburn
PATERSON John McD Private Royal Scots 222 Aikenhead Road
PATERSON John Neil Lance Corporal Cameron Highlanders 569 Old Shettleston Road
PATERSON John W Private Canadian Expeditionary Force 48 Well Road

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:27 am Post subject:

John - in the Edinburgh University RoH Record of Service section there is:
PATERSON, JOHN.
Ayr Grammar School. M.A. 1902. Schoolmaster. 3/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry, Private Nov. 1915. Attached I2th Highland Light Infantry. France Dec. 1916 to May 1917. Wounded at Arras April 1917.
_________________
Ken

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 11:41 am Post subject:

There is a Medal Card that might be worth following-up
Medal card of Paterson, John
Corps Regiment No Rank
Ayrshire Yeomanry 2924
Royal Scots Fusiliers 4068
Highland Light Infantry 41987 Private

However (and I'm not sure about this) I don't think the 3/1st Ayrshire Yeomanry would have served overseas so would not have appeared on the MIC??????????

Update - from the Long, Long Trail
3/1st (Ayrshire Yeomanry)
Formed as a Third-Line training unit in 1915.
Remained in United Kingdom until disbanded in early 1917, when the personnel went to the 2/1st and to the 4th (Reserve) Bn, the Royal Scots Fusiliers.
_________________
Ken

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Very confident that Ken has found the correct soldier. He was entitled to the Silver War Badge on his being discharged due to wounds. His entry on the SWB roll shows:

Enlisted 20/11/1915
Discharged due to wounds, 19/09/1917 from 12th HLI, age 38

So, enlistment date, unit and age are in agreement with info provided by John and Ken. Well done, Ken.

However, the problem will be whether this is sufficient information to present to the MoD as a non-comm case?

Cheers,

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Stuart
I checked this out for John ( direct request) last week and did suspect 41987 was the correct John Paterson. There are no records surviving to support a case as a non-comm. We need to prove the link between his medical discharge and death cause being the same / connected.
I assume he was discharged in Sept 1917 due to the head wound. On his death, nearly three and a half years later, the principal cause is given as meningitis and it appears he has been working during this time.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

jrah60 · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2013 9:17 pm Post subject:

Many thanks everyone for your help on this one.
However it looks as if his name will not go forward unless there is more convincing information out there!!
Ah! it is so frustrating, c'est la vie.
Cheers
John

neilston · Joined: 14 Dec 2012 Posts: 370 Location: Neilston

John
John Paterson MA is listed on the Nitshill war memorial
Robert Murray
David Nicol
John Paterson, MA
James Rennie

He also comes up as one of the first presendents of the Nitshill Bowling club.~In the 1890’s and early 1900’s "The Nitshill" did not lack sporting facilities as football, pitching, field events, sprinting, dog racing and any other sport or game like boxing and wrestling that had to find a winner were all part of village life. Tennis, Golf and Clay pigeon shooting had their adherents, but bowling had still to be introduced.

In the early 1900’s "Mine Hosts of the Railway Inn" Mr Ed. Howden and son John Howden introduced the game for the pleasure of regulars at the Inn. The green was a miniature compared to the standard green but served the purpose and satisfied the players, who, as the time went past began talking of a Club, similar to neighbouring villages like Thornliebank, Pollokshaws, Neilston and Barrhead. In 1912, the spring began with a miners strike and what better could these men do than to get together with the traders and other business people in the district. This was accomplished, a committee formed, subscriptions asked for and ground leased. Everybody was keen now and by summer 1913, James Provan had completed the green and on May 31 st 1913, Mr Thomas Robinson, J.P., officially opened the green for play. Mrs Paterson, wife of the first President, Mr John Paterson, M.A. threw the first jack and the President the first two bowls.

From then on the club was on its own but confident that all would go well were the officials and committee who were appointed.

President Mr John Paterson M.A.

Looks like this could be your guy

Cheers Matt

anne park

1881 Census John St; Ayr.
His parent died before 1921.
John Hunter Paterson b 1836 d 09 Aug 1920 in Muirdale, Alloway, Ayrshire
Margaret Sutherland Muir b 1842 d 12 Feb 1917 in John Street, Ayr.
_________________
Researching WWI info from Aberdeenshire, Banffshire, Kincardineshire & Morayshire.

David McNay · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 12:02 am Post subject:

Pension Card shows cause of death as septic meningitis.

jrah60 · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 9:04 pm Post subject:

Sent a copy of the Pension Card details to Terry @IFTC.

David McNay · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:53 pm Post subject:

I had thought the issue was confirming the connection to his military service. Ah well, can't win them all.