Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-
Joseph was the first child of Scottish born blacksmith Andrew Patterson and his wife Catherine (nee Wilson). Born on 19th May 1886 in the village of Ford, Northumberland where Catherine had been living and working with her family, by the age of four Joseph and his parents were living in Davidson Street, Gateshead and it was here that his youngest siblings David, Robert and Janet had also been born. His brother James had been born in Scotland. By 1901 father Andrew had his own forge in the village of Preston near Belford, Northumberland and Joseph lived there until he left home leaving behind his parents and siblings, David, Janet and young Andrew.
Joseph sailed for Canada in May 1913 aboard the SS Megantic with the intention of joining his brother James who was farming near Vancouver, British Columbia. Eighteen months later on 11th January 1915 Joseph enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Calgary, Alberta becoming Trooper 117466 in “B” Squadron, 12th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles. He named his parents then living at Woodburn as his next of kin, his occupation as blacksmith and mentioned his four years spent in the Territorial Yeomanry.
Standing at over six feet tall and with his previous experience Trooper Patterson was confirmed in the rank of Corporal within four months, and after being granted harvest leave in August to help on his brother’s farm, he sailed with the Regiment on the SS Missanabie, arriving in Plymouth in mid October 1915 and a posting to the Canadian Cavalry Depot at Shorncliffe, Kent.
On 29th April 1916 Joseph Patterson married Lillian Turnbull in Morpeth and on his return to barracks she remained living with her mother in Alnwick. Posted temporarily to Lord Strathcona’s Horse he was promoted to Farrier Sergeant with 1st class working pay with his pay of $20 per month assigned to his wife. April 1917 saw the birth of his son Andrew Ronald in Alnwick, and shortly afterwards he was admitted to Moore Barracks Military Hospital at Shorncliffe with gastralagia.
January 1918 saw him in hospital again, this time for two months with chronic bronchitis. Returning to the Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment at Shorncliffe in September he reverted to the rank of Trooper and ceasing to draw his working pay as a Sergeant farrier joined the Fort Garry Horse, part of the 3rd Cavalry Division in France. Joining them at Conche-sur-Canche in mid September, just a few weeks later on 9th October “whilst advancing with his troop in pursuit of the retreating enemy during the attack and capture of Maurois and Reumont, he was hit and killed instantly by a rifle or machine gun bullet” Trooper Joseph Patterson was killed and buried on the battlefield. 1st May 1920 saw his body exhumed and reburied at Highland Cemetery.
His wife Lillian died in Alnwick in 1963 and their son Andrew, having served with the Northumberland Fusiliers during WW2 and been a POW, died in 1985.
Joseph Patterson is remembered at Alnwick on A11.03, A11.09, A11.23 and A11.56 and at Chevington on C27.01
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance.
Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual War Memorial
The CWGC entry for Trooper Patterson