In Sunderland Ryhope Road Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave with a private headstone of PS3069, 2nd Lieutenant Hugh Pater serving with the 3rd (Reserve) Prince of Wales’s Own, (West Yorkshire Regiment), attached to the 37 Reserve Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, who died 17/04/1917.
He was the son of the Rev. Septimus Pater and Emily Louisa Pater, of The Rectory, Sunderland.
The headstone is in a family plot with a memorial which reads:
In loving memory of
Hugh Pater
2nd Lieut. West Yorks Regt.,
and Royal Flying Corps.
Killed April 11th 1917, age 29
“In his keeping”.
Also the Rev. S. Pater
late rector of Sunderland,
born August 3rd 1855, died October 5th 1930.
“At rest”.
Hugh Pater was born at 98 Ellison Street, Jarrow on the 24th April 1888, baptised 13th May 1888, the eldest son of the Reverend Septimus Pater, [born 1860, Cheshire], later Rector of Sunderland, and his wife Emily Louisa, [born 1861, in Brazil], daughter of Francis White Mackay. They had five children Mary born 1887, Winifred born 1895 Philip born 1898, who was at RMC Sandhurst 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 1st Company, 21st Royal Fusiliers [Public School Battalion] on the 14th September 1914 at Durham with a service number PS/3069. 5 feet seven inches, 147lbs, medium complexion, grey eyes brown hair. He was gazetted a 2nd Lieutenant with the 3rd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment on the 9th June 1915, who were based at Whitley bay. Hugh was directed to report the School of Instruction at Tynemouth on the 15th June 1915.
On the 17th April 1916, Hugh was playing football when he fell and twisted his left knee. He took 17 days sick leave, and rejoined his unit, but could only do light duties. He was recommended for a medical review. At Tynemouth on the 9th June 1916, the Medical board found he had a loose Cartlidge in his left knee and recommended an operation which Hugh undertook at the 1st Northern General Hospital at Newcastle upon Tyne.
Medical examination dated 13th July 1916. The officer is fit enough for Light duties only. 14th August 1916 at the Northern General Hospital, he was medically examined again. Operation was a success and continued his recovery still light duties. Also in August he volunteered for the RFC.
9th September 1916, he was declared fully fit and returned to his his unit at Whitley Bay.
He was 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 efficiency certificate on the 14th April 1917 and was expected to go to the front immediately.
Hugh 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.
There was 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.
Hugh’s body was brought back to Sunderland and lay overnight at Sunderland Parish Church. He was 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 the 1st 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].
In 2016 a commemorative scroll was advertised for sale at £1,500.
The sale included a letter written to his mother on the day Hugh 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 Paters 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.
Sources: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour; Jonathan Smith, para 6; British Newspaper Archive; Western Front Association; Flight Magazine; RAF Museum; John Stelling
Hugh Pater is remembered at Sunderland on S140.020, in S140.48 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.
