Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A fine Great War ‘V.C. action’ casualty pair awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Paterson, who was killed in action commanding the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment during their epic stand on Hill 60, 20-21 April 1915 - an action that resulted in the Battalion being awarded 3 V.C.s, 2 M.C.s and 9 D.C.M.s. Paterson was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry, and was one of the Battalion’s 7 Officers and 106 other ranks killed, and 8 Officers and 158 other ranks wounded during the action

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Capt. W. H. Paterson, E. Surr: Rgt:); 1914 Star (Major W. H. Paterson. E. Surr: R.) generally very fine or better (2) £500-600

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 January 1915 and 31 May 1915.

Walter Herbert Paterson was born in Woolwich, in 1869, the son of Surgeon Major General H. F. Paterson. He was educated at the Royal Naval School, New Cross and R.M.C. Sandhurst. Paterson was commissioned Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, in March 1890. He advanced to Lieutenant in March 1892, and Captain in December 1896. He served as Adjutant, January 1898 - December 1901, and served with the Regiment during the Second Boer War from 1902.

Paterson advanced to Major in October 1908, and served during the Great War with the Battalion in the French theatre from 5 October 1914. He saw considerable action during the latter stages of 1914, as was testified to by Field Marshal Sir John French when he visited the Battalion in December:

‘As part of the 5th Division you had your share of the fighting whilst retreating after Mons and Le Cateau. At the battle of the Marne you had to attack the most difficult section of the line, and the attack was brilliantly carried out. A week later you were engaged at the Aisne and subjected to incessant German rifle and shell fire from the commanding German position above. Followed by La Bassee, where you were faced by three if not four times your numbers experiencing some of the fiercest fighting of the War. Latterly, in the trench fighting, you have gallantly defended your lines against the most determined attacks and the most vigorous shelling.’

Yet Paterson was to command the 1st East Surreys in far fiercer fighting, namely the Battalion’s epic stand at Hill 60, Ypres, 20-21 April 1915, an action that witnessed extraordinary acts of courage and self-sacrifice, and casualties of seven officers and 106 other ranks killed, and eight officers and 158 other ranks wounded. An action, too, that resulted in the Battalion winning three V.Cs, two M.Cs and nine D.C.Ms, among other accolades.

The Battalion’s War Diary gives the following for 20 April 1915:

‘A quiet time till 11 a.m. when heavy shelling of the hill, communicating and support trenches commenced, with great effect, the Germans scoring many direct hits with heavy howitzers. Trenches were blown in and many men killed and buried. During this time Captain & Adjutant Wynyard seeing some men attending wounded men near a shelled spot, went towards them, moved the men along the trench away from the danger spot, attended the wounded himself and in doing so was blown to bits. During this time the Germans were crawling up their old communication trenches and flinging bombs into our fire trenches, but could make no headway owing to our hand grenades and rifle fire. On the death of Captain Wynyard, Major Paterson, the Commanding Officer, sent for 2nd Lieutenant Dymott to take over the duties of Adjutant, temporarily. About 2 p.m. Captain Wynter, Commanding ‘B’ Company, went forward on to the hill to reconnoitre the trenches held by ‘A’ Company before taking over after dark. During the reconnaissance he was wounded in the leg, and placed in a dug-out for shelter; soon afterwards the dug-out was hit by a shell which caused Captain Wynter’s death. About 3 p.m. the Germans in front of ‘B’ Company attempted to assault that trench, but on rising from their trench were hurled back by hand grenades and rifle fire. In this action, Private Dwyer, ‘B’ Company [who was awarded the V.C.], greatly distinguished himself by crawling up the parapet and flinging hand grenades at the enemy, he himself being under a perfect hail of enemy bombs. About this time Lieutenant Watson who was in the support trench was killed by a heavy howitzer shell. About 3.30 p.m. Lieutenant Darwell, the Machine Gun Officer, was sent for by the C.O. to go to Battalion H.Q. to take over the duties of Adjutant to the Battalion. On arrival there he found Major Paterson, the C.O. killed, and that 2nd Lieutenant Dymott had been seriously wounded and carried to the dressing station. Now a most terrific bombardment of the position commenced, which lasted for two hours, the hill during this time being a mass of smoke, flame and debris ... The result of this was every telephone line to the rear was cut and communication with the Artillery and Sector H.Q. made impossible. By this time every man from the support trenches had been sent to reinforce the fire trenches on the hill and still more men were wanted. In taking up these supports 2nd Lieutenant Norton was killed by a heavy howitzer in the communication trench. Lieutenant Roupell [who was awarded the V.C.], wounded in several places, succeeded in reaching Sector H.Q. when the bombardment was at its height, and explained to Colonel Griffiths, Commanding Sector, the situation, asking for reinforcements. Corporal Harding, the Battalion Signalling Corporal, also managed to deliver a message asking for reinforcements to Sector H.Q. An orderly was sent with the ‘S.O.S.’ signal to the Artillery Observing station on the “Dump”. The reinforcements arrived about 6 p.m. and Major Allison, 1st Bedfords, took over command of the hill position. The bombardment of front line lasted to about this hour and after this all their Artillery fire was directed against reserve and support trenches and lines of approach; this continued well into the night, and abated somewhat about midnight. Throughout the night until 3 a.m. the enemy repeatedly assaulted our trenches on the hill with bombs; only once did they succeed in gaining a footing and then they were immediately driven out. Once during the night the enemy attempted to assault the trench held by ‘B’ Company, but were immediately driven back by rifle fire. Lateral telephonic communication between companies was restored about 10 p.m. From 3 to 6 a.m. the situation was much quieter.

At 6 a.m. the position was taken over by the Devon Regiment and 2nd Lieutenant Davis, who was with his Company all through the night on the hill, was killed as he was being relieved. Captain Huth was killed on the night of the 19th. After relief the Battalion, now under command of Lieutenant T. H. Darwell, marched to billets at Kruisstraat, bringing with it the body of the Commanding Officer, Major Paterson, which was interred later on in the day in the Convent grounds, Ypres.’

Paterson was gazetted posthumously to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel to take effect from 9 February 1915, he was also Mentioned in Despatches posthumously, and later re-buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Zillebeke.