RFC Aviator Certificate Photo no 4193
Photo: By Gladstone Adams of Whitley Bay
2nd Lieut Hugh Pater Aero Certificate 4193
Hugh Pater Family Memorial Headstone
Telegram informing of the Death of 2nd Lieut Pater
Hugh Pater was born at 98 Ellison Street, Jarrow on the 24th April 1888, the eldest son of the Reverend Septimus Pater, [born 1860, Cheshire], Rector of Sunderland, and his wife Emily Louisa, [born 1861, in Brazil], daughter of Francis White Mackay. They had three children Mary born 1887, Hugh born 1888 and Dorothy born 1890.
Hugh was educated at Bow School, Durham, under Mr W. H. Bramwell, Rossall School, [Mr Furneaux's house]. For some years, he was an assistant school master at the Durham Cathedral Choir School, Durham.
Hugh joined as a private in the Royal Fusiliers [Public School Battalion] on the 3rd September 1914, was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant with The West Yorkshire Regiment 15th June 1915, being attached to the Royal Flying Corps in August 1916. He obtained his Pilot's Certificate 4193, on the 6th February 1917 at Military School, Catterick Bridge flying a Maurice Framan Biplane. He received his certificate on the 14th April 1917.
He was killed in an aerial accident at Scampton Camp [with 37RS] near Lincoln, on Tuesday, 17th April, while acting as an observer. He was unmarried.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
There is a Telegram sent to London informing of the death of 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Pater, it reads:- 2/Lt H Pater as passenger was killed in an aeroplane accident at Scampton this afternoon machine RE[8] ait [sic] engine Ras 4a can next of kin [be] informed and cause of accident running into machine on aerodrome when taking off. Aeronautics 37. Lincoln.
His body was brought back to Sunderland and lay overnight at Sunderland Parish Church. He is buried in the same grave as his father, Septimus Pater who was Rector of the church during the War.
[Septimus Pater was known as the 'Fighting Parson' as he had boxing skills from his days at Trinity University, Cambridge. According to the admission register Septimus Pater was admitted to Trinity on 1 June 1878 from Haileybury School. He was the son of Joseph Pater, who lived at Ashby House, Flookersbrook in Chester. He was awarded an Ordinary degree by the University in 1882 and an MA in 1890. Pater got a blue for Rugby in 1880 and 1881, the first in a drawn match and the second in a loss. He played in the forwards. Unfortunately the Boxing blues matches (originally together with fencing) did not begin until 1897].
Source: Jonathan Smith
In 2016 a commemorative scroll was advertised for sale at £1,500. The sale included a letter written to his mother on the day he died. 'My dear Mother, I had my first 'crash' on Monday ['today' scored through] in an R.E.8 smashing the propeller and taking a wheel off the undercarriage, so I shall not go to France till Friday at any rate. If I can finish my time today or to-morrow I might get some leave. The weather here is appallingly windy and it is impossible to fly at present. Ives was sent to France a week or two ago; I do not expect to see him out there as I shall be flying a different type of machine. I knew Kirkup very well indeed as he got his 'wings' here and then went to South Carlton [airfield, Lincolnshire]. He was a splendid fellow. Love to all, your loving son Hugh'. (dated April 17th, on a letter card postmarked Lincoln, 9.30 pm 1917). The Kirkup mentioned in Pater’s letter is Captain Philip Austin Kirkup MC of No. 45 Reserve Squadron RFC, born in Sunderland and also killed in an accident, while flying an FE8 on the 11th April 1917. He and Pater are buried in adjacent graves in the same cemetery, at Ryhope Road, Sunderland.
Hugh Pater is remembered in Sunderland on S140.020, in S140.048 Part 9, page 193, and on S149.097
* Footnote: Gladstone Adams himself served in the R.F.C. as a reconnaissance officer, one of his duties was to identify and help bury the 'Red Baron' Manfred von Richtofen after he was shot down.
