In Brie British Cemetery, France is the Commonwealth War Grave of 8756 Private Robert Henry Patterson serving with the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 03/10/1918.
Peter Wise and Brenda McMahon have submitted the following:-
Robert, the son of John and Elizabeth (nee Lodge) who were licensed victuallers at the Commercial Hotel at Galgate, Barnard Castle, was born in 1885.
The 1891 census shows the family as publicans and raising their brood of several children. They included John, George, James (died 1899), Thomas, Robert, Dora and Sarah There was also a boarder staying with them and they had 2 servants.
Both parents died in 1896, his father at the age of 42, his mother aged only 40 years.
1901 indicates Isabella and John were joint heads of the family. Both are shown as living on their own means although John was also working as a painter/paperhanger, George was a grocer’s assistant whilst Robert was a plumber/gas fitter. They employed a servant/housekeeper named Jane Hind.
Possibly about 1903 Robert joined the Durham Light Infantry. He appears to have been in trouble a couple of times but unfortunately the details shown on his punishment sheet are illegible. Robert seems to have re-enlisted when war broke out.
On August 2nd 1908 at St Paul’s Church, Darlington Robert married his sweetheart, Emily Scott, who was usually known at Patty, so by 1911 the couple had their own home at Darlington. Robert was now working as a labourer at the bridge works. The couple had two children, John Henry then later daughter, Emmaline.
Robert had been working as a plumber before enlisting.
He had been involved in the war almost from the beginning and had taken part in a number of the biggest battles. He was described as being ‘A right good soldier’. In May 1918 his brother John had written home to say that, It is not often that 3 brothers meet on the battlefield, especially when there are only 3 of us and our ages add up to 115 years. It will be hard to beat.
Robert died on October 3rd 1918 in France from broncho pneumonia. Once again the paperwork is very difficult to read but it seems he had an underlying health problem (perhaps associated with his liver) that overtook him hence his death.
Robert Henry Patterson is remembered at Barnard Castle on B135.02, in B135.23 and B135.25, and at Darlington on D40.08, D40.034, D40.047 and D40.067, and also at Durham in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance, page 271.
