Castleside St. John's churchyard
22/1136 Colour Serjeant
J. Pattinson
Northumberland Fusiliers
15th October 1919
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Jacob Pattinson, one of 8 children, of whom only 7 are known by name. His father William Pattinson was born at Muggleswick, County Durham, March 25th 1847, his parents had migrated to the north east from Cumberland, where his father Thomas had been a lead miner, transferring to Northumberland for at least 10 years before settling by 1871 at Castleside, near Consett. In 1871 William was still living at home, employed as a furnace-man (iron ore) and married in 1873 in the district of Tynemouth, Northumberland, Jane Ann Brown born 1851 at Monkseaton, whom he had met whilst she was in service as a house maid at Castleside in the home of the Town family. They settled at Castleside, daughter Emma was born in 1876, Thomas 1879, Margaret 1881, William Burton Patterson 1882, Sarah Eleanor 1883, Jacob 1887 and Florence Nightingale 1889. William remained the only breadwinner until he was joined at the steel and lead mill by eldest son Thomas (23) as a mill helper, William a stationer and newsagent and their sister Margaret (21) working as a dressmaker for her own account also contributed to the household income.
Tragedy befell the family twice during the next ten years, Margaret who had married in the district of Lanchester in 1906 to Australian born Jonathan William Maxwell, with whom she had twin girls, born 4th quarter 1909, died during childbirth or soon after, aged 29 years, during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1909. Her death was preceded by that of her sister Sarah Eleanor aged 25 years, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/June) 1909. At the age of 64 years in 1911 William was still employed as a furnace-man as was Thomas (32) and William (29) a labourer, Jacob (23) is listed as a commercial clerk, Florence assisted her mother in the home. Living with them in 7 rooms at Wesley Lea, Castleside, were Margaret’s children, Jennie Dorothea and Ella Pattinson Maxwell aged 1-year. Her widower Jonathan William Maxwell in 1911 was head of the household at 74, Cromwell Road. Living with him were his siblings, widowed sister Annie Isabel Croft (30) also born in Australia, Bevel Maxwell (21) born at Thornaby after the family's return to England, his nephew Louie Maxwell (3) and Norwegian boarder, 21 year old Louie Bjornsen.
Upon the outbreak of war with Germany in 1914 all regiments needed to raise new battalions. The 22nd Battalion (3rd Tyneside Irish) Northumberland Fusiliers was raised at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, November 5th 1914 and Jacob Pattinson was one of the first to enlist, exact location unknown, assigned as Private 1136. He joined his regiment at their barracks at Fenham where his training began before the regiment was moved to the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, in early May 1915. Attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division they departed to Ripon in Yorkshire and in late August moved to Salisbury Plain for final training. Whilst the main body of men departed to the front in France, January 1916, where they prepared for and participated at the Battles of the Somme, it is impossible to know in the absence of a military record why Jacob was in England during the latter months when he married during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1916 in the district of Lanchester to Margaret Ann Brown. Either he did not depart with his regiment immediately or he had been wounded and was recuperating in England or he was on leave which is less likely.
During 1917 the 22nd Battalion N.F. fought during the 1st and 2nd Battles of the Scarpe, and the Battle of Arleux, phases of the Battles of Arras, April 9-May 16th 1917. August they participated during the fighting at Hargicourt and were moved to the Ypres salient in Belgium in October as reinforcements for the final stage of the 3rd Battle of Ypres, July 1st-November 10th 1917. In 1918 they returned to France in action at the Battle of St Quentin, returned to Flanders suffering heavy losses at the Battle of Estaires, Bailleul, Kemmel Ridge and the Battles of the Lys. Reduced to cadre strength by May 17th 1918 they transferred to the 16th Division and returned to England, June 18th 1918.
Having risen through the ranks the now Colour Sergeant 1366 Jacob Pattinson was discharged to Class Z Reserve, introduced as of December 3rd 1918, free to return to his home and employment but under the obligation to return to the Colours should hostilities with Germany resume. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, officially bringing the conflict of WW1 to an end. Awards; British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Jacob was due to receive a pension of 43 shilling 4 pence a week as of October 22nd 1919, however he died October 15th 1919. As his death was attributed to or aggravated by his war service, considered a casualty of WW1 Jacob Pattinson was interred with military honours within St. John’s churchyard, Castleside, County Durham. He was 32 years of age.
His mother Jane Ann Pattinson nee Brown died aged 95 years in 1945, registered at Durham North Western, (including Consett), County Durham. The entry of the CWGC implies his father William died prior to his son, however, the only entry found is for a William Pattinson in 1927, aged 80 years, registered in the district of Bishop Auckland.
Margaret Ann Pattinson may have remarried in 1922 to William Holt, a Margaret Ann Holt died in 1967, Durham North Western (including Consett), aged 86 years.
Ella Bowman Pattinson born in 1918, the daughter of Jacob and Margaret, of Bosca, Woodlands Road, Shotley Bridge, is listed in the Roll of Assistant Nurses 1947-48, as Assistant Nurse (6795) enrolled in London, June 22nd 1945. Ella married in the district of Durham North Western in 1949 to Charles F. Graham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Jacob Pattinson is remembered at Castleside on C113.01 and C113.05
