Pte 57565 Charles Pattie

• Age: 31
• From: Dundee
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Neuville-vitasse Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: A.3

Charles Shearer Pattie was born in Dundee in about 1886 (online trees gives his birthdate as 18th August 1886 but this does not correspond with his census ages, nor the age given in a newspaper notice). He was the the youngest son of James Pattie, born in about 1850 in Tayport, Fife, and his wife Catherine (née McEwan), from Dundee.  His parents married in 1870 in Dundee and had at least nine children.  Charles had older siblings Annie, Agnes, John, James, Ellen (or Helen), and Young, and younger sisters Catherine and Davina. 

In 1900 Dundee had over 100 working jute mills and almost half of the city's population worked in jute or jute-related industries. Until the late 19th century Dundee produced almost all the jute cloth that was used anywhere in the world. 

By 1901 they have moved and are at 5 Temple Lane, Dundee, with four children. His father is aged 51, a shipwright, mother is 50, children Helen, 19, and Charles, 15, are both jute mill workers, Catherine 11 and Davina 9 are at school.

He married Margaret Sword Angus, born 1887, on the 05th April 1907 and had four sons: Charles Angus born 19th September 1909, John Young Stewart 21st August 1911, Andrew S. Angus 08th May 1913, and Alexander Harris 20th April 1915. 

Unfortunately, the 1911 Scotland census is only available on subscription.

His father died on the 13th September 1916, aged 66. His death was reported in the Dundee Peoples Journal on 23rd September 1916:

Charles enlisted in Dundee into the Highland Cyclist Division as Private 823. This Division appears to have been subsumed into the Army Cyclist Corps. He subsequently transferred to the 18th battalion of the King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57565.

Charles was killed in action on the 09th April 1917 during the opening phase of the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Charles now rests at Neuville Vitasse Road Cemetery in France.

Based on his census ages, Charles would have been 31 years old. 

His sons were 7, 5, 3, and not yet two years old when Charles was killed. 

Soldiers’ Effects shows a “debtor balance” of £1-5s-3d.  The War gratuity of £5-10s went to his widow Margaret, at 54 Rosebank Street, who was awarded a pension of £1-8s-9d a week for herself and four children from November 1917. 

Charles is commemorated on the following memorials - 

Maryfield Church, Ogilvie

Dundee Roll of Honour

Scottish National War Memorial

His mother died in 1927, aged 76.

His widow never remarried and  died in 1971, aged 84.