William Pateman

W.W.2.
1909 to 1943

Birth place: Hampshire
Residence: Hampshire
Death date: 23 Nov 1943
Rank: Corporal
Number: 1868170
Regiment at enlistment: Royal engineers
Branch at enlistment: Other corps
Theatre of war: India
Regiment at death: Royal engineers
Branch at death: Other corps

William (Bill) Patemen, born 1909 at Thorney Hill, Bransgore, son of Ralph and Mary Jane Pateman.

Married Lavinia Alice Bowers who also lived in Thorney Hill and both William and Alice had attended the same school and were married in Bransgore church. William was raised in school lane. He died 23rd November 1943 aged 34.

William was in the Royal Engineers and was posted to 58 Chemical Warfare Company which went to France in 1940 and soon returned to the U.K.

In June 1942 William was sent to India with no.1 Chemical Warfare Group. His commanding officer was said to of written to Alice to say how well liked Bill was and that he was a great entertainer and kept troops happy with his jokes, he was a good morale booster.

In May 1943 he moved to Chittagong in Assam and was re-designated a Field Squadron in 15th India Corps. A month later he was sent back to Ranchi in India and then soon moved to Golaghat and then to Palei. Here in Palei he swam in the river and caught typhus. He sadly died of a combination of malaria and pneumonia on 23rd November 1943 aged 34.

He is buried in Imphal war cemetery in grave 9.a