Pte 353008 Edward Patterson

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Edward Patterson was born in September 1896 (Qtr) and resided in Everton, Liverpool and was the son of Edward and Margaret(nee Wynne) Patterson who were married on the 12th July 1886 at St Alban, Liverpool. Edward was 20 years old of 25 Bond St, Margaret was 20 years old 1/26 Bond St.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at House 11, 10 Court, Great Homer Street, Liverpool.

The father Edward is aged 36, a bricklayers labourer, mother Margaret is aged 34, children William aged 14, Mary aged 11, John aged 9, Edward aged 4, and Peter aged 1.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 19C Skirving Street, Liverpool.

The father Edward aged 46, born 1865 is a paper hanger and was born in Liverpool. His wife Margaret is aged 45, born 1866 in Chester and has no occupation listed. They have been married for twenty five years and have had ten children of which two had died. They have five children living with them at the time of the Census, Mary aged 21, born 1890 works in a tin factory, Edward aged 14, born 1897 is a baker's errand boy, Peter aged 11, born 1900 and Martha aged 7, born 1904 are both at school, and Joseph aged 3, born in 1908. The children were all born in Liverpool. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 353008 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 21 during the German Spring Offensive.

On the day of his death 29th April 1918, the Battalion was serving on the Ypres Salient and was in the front line at Elzenwalle, near Ridge Wood, awaiting a renewal of the German assault on that front.

At 02.30 am the attack began with a devastating bombardment along the whole battle front, from the forward positions back to a depth of over a mile. At 6am the enemy Infantry attacked, the main force of the assault being directed at a position near Ridge Wood, where one of the Battalion’s forward listening posts was captured and held. Then, 16999 Company Sergeant Major G Sutton of No.1 Company gallantly drove out the attackers with Mills Bombs, an action for which he was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. After a strong defence along the Battalion frontage, the Germans withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the rest of the morning and afternoon, however, and at about 17.00 began to mass once more for another Infantry attack. This was contained by Rifle and Lewis Gun fire, until a large British Artillery barrage at 18.00 finally broke up all enemy activity.

Here is a lightly edited extract from Graham Maddocks's 'Liverpool Pals', pp 190/1.

'In the morning of 28^th April [1918] the Pals [17^th, 18^th and 19^th Battalions KLR] were sent up the line to positions west of Voormezele, between Ridge Wood and Kruisstraathoek and the Brasserie on the road which connects Vierstraat with Ypres.. The 17^th Battalion was on the left, 19^th in the centre and 18^th on the right….

In the early afternoon of 28^th the Germans mounted a furious attack on the unit on the left of 17^th Bn, near Voormezele…

A heavy bombardment fell on the British trenches which lasted for more than three hours…

The following morning the Germans opened their attack on the Scherpenberg with a terrific bombardment of high explosive, shrapnel and gas shells, which lasted three hours. Most of the outpost lines fell at once…

The Germans also attacked the 18^th Battalion but this time the forward positions did not fall. The first assault at 6.00 a.m. was directed at a listening post near Ridge Wood, held by No. 4 Company. The post was initially held by about twenty Germans who began to move down the trench. Then CSM G. Sutton of No. 1 Company leapt in among them and single-handedly and with great gallantry drove them out with Mills bombs, killing and wounding some and putting the rest to flight. He was later awarded the DCM for his action. After a strong defence along the rest of the Battalion’s frontage, the Germans eventually withdrew. They continued their artillery barrage throughout the morning and afternoon and at about 5 p.m. began to mass once more for another infantry attack. This was contained by rifle and Lewis Gun fire, however, until a British artillery barrage at 6 p.m. finally broke up all enemy activity.

By the end of the day the British line still held firm, the Germans had failed to take the Scherpenberg, and the Battle of the Lys was over. Although the Allied line was seriously bulged, Flanders was once more saved as it had been in 1914 and 1915, largely by the stubborn defence of British infantrymen.'

Edward has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Liverpool Echo 21st May 1918

ROLL OF HONOUR

Killed In Action

PATTERSON - March 29, killed in action, Private EDWARD PATTERSON, K.L.R., son of Mr and Mrs Patterson of China Street, Netherfield Road

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his mother Margaret.

Parents appear on the 1939 register at 38a Myrtle Gardens, Liverpool. Edward, dob 15th Jan 1865, a retired jobber, Margaret, dob 13th Dec 1866.

Father Edward of 38a Myrtle Gardens died in 1941 at the age of 75, he was buried on the 21st March 1941 at Anfield Cemetery and mother Margaret died in 1952 aged 85, and  she was buried on the 27th Nov 1952 at Anfield Cemetery.

We currently have no further information on Edward Patterson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.