An attractive portrait miniature depicting Second Lieutenant P. A. C. Everitt, Royal Norfolk Regiment, who died of wounds in German hands on 7 January 1940, thought to be the first B.E.F. officer casualty of the Second World War

Portrait Miniature, attractive half length watercolour on ivory, 75mm by 95mm, depicting Second Lieutenant Everitt in khaki service dress, contained in original glazed brass frame, with stand and hanging loop to reverse, minor blemish to background colour in one place, otherwise very good condition £150-200

Patrick Anthony Clement Everitt, the son of Sir Clement and Lady Everitt, was mortally wounded on 7 January 1940 whilst leading a patrol into enemy occupied Germany. He is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany.

The following is extracted from The History of The Royal Norfolk Regiment 1919-1951, by Lieutenant-Commander P. K. Kemp: ‘[4 January 1940] The second patrol, of three men under Lt. P. A. C. Everitt, was more fortunate. It penetrated through the enemy front line and across the border into Germany, being the first time a British patrol had crossed the frontier during the war. It returned without being brought to action and with much valuable information. Lt. Everitt and his patrol received the congratulations of the Brigadier on their achievement...

The battalion Carrier Platoon, under Lt. Everitt, remained in the forward area, where it formed part of the brigade “patrol team.” On January 7th Lt. Everitt took another patrol toward the German line, this time in daylight. He led his party over the crest of a hill to within sight of the enemy and going on alone, attempted with great determination to get near a German defence post. Machine-gun fire was opened on the patrol. Lt. Everitt was hit and severely wounded and the rest of the patrol pinned to the ground. Eventually it managed to return over the crest of the hill, but Lt. Everitt, who had gone too far ahead of the patrol, had to be left behind. A search for him after dark was unsuccessful and it was later learned, from enemy broadcasts, that he had been taken in by the Germans and had died from his wounds two days later in a German hospital, being buried with full military honours. He was the first officer casualty of the B.E.F.’