Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Pattison was born at Heworth, near Gateshead, County Durham in 1898, the eldest of 6 children, 4 sons and 2 daughters. His father James Pattison born 1866 and mother Mary Derrick born 1881 both natives of Heworth, were married in 1897. His father worked as a cart man for the district council, aged 13 years Robert attended Felling School, the family were living in 1911 at 5, Wades Buildings, Heworth.
He enlisted, date unknown and was assigned as Private 11272 to the Queen’s Own Yorkshire Dragoons, transferred to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion Durham Light infantry as Private 27461 then to the 2nd Battalion D.L.I. of the Regular Army and finally as Private 61463 to the 1/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. His military record no longer exists, one of the 70% destroyed during the blitz of WW2, it is therefore impossible to established the dates of these transfers, however due to his age he should not have served on the Western Front until 1916.
The 1/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers participated on the Western Front attached to the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, during the Second Battle of Ypres in Belgium, April 22nd-May 25th 1915, he would have joined them on the Somme in 1916 at Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd, Morval September 25th-28th and Le Transloy September 26th-28th, in 1917 at Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), and during 1918 at the Second Battle of the Somme March 21-April 5th and the Battle of Lys April 7th-29th.
Private 61463 Robert Pattison Northumberland Fusiliers was killed in action during day to day trench warfare, June 6th 1918. His body was buried at Epernay French Military Cemetery, grave 80bis, having been identified as being British by means of his uniform and its buttons indicating his regiment. His grave was marked with a British cross bearing the words, “Believed to be No. 61463 Pte. R. Pattison 5/ North’d Fusiliers 6.6.1918”, and also with a French cross marked, “Pattison R. Anglais 5/Bat N. Fus. 6.6.1918”.
His mother nominated as his sole beneficiary received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medial. At the time of his demise he was 20 years old.
In order to ensure maintenance of WW1 war graves in isolated sites and other burial grounds throughout France, between July 9th-20th 1964 the remains of Private Pattison along with those of 7 other British servicemen and 1 unknown British soldier were exhumed and brought into Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimple, Pas de Calais, France for reburial with all honour and reverence. Private Robert Pattison is at rest, grave XVI. D. 23.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Pattison is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
