Walter Thomas Pateman

W.W.1.
1890 to 1916

Place of Birth: Thorney Hill, Nr. Christchurch, Hampshire
Residence: Thorney Hill, Hants
Death date: 1 Sep. 1916
Death place: France and Flanders
Enlistment place: Christchurch, Hants
Rank: Private
Regiment: Hampshire
Regiment Battalion: 1st Battalion
Regimental number: 22494
Type of casualty: Killed in action
Theatre of war: Western European theatre.

Walter Thomas Pateman, born in Thorney Hill, Bransgore born 1890 son of Thomas Pateman and Matilda. Walter was in the 1st Battalion Hampshire Regiment, his number was 22494, he served in the 15th platoon and he died on 1st September 1916 aged 26 years old.

Walter enlisted in Christchurch, Dorset in March 1916. It is said that the probability is that he would have reported to his battalion sometime in the August, the battalion was in the Ypres salient.

After an abortive attack on Beaumont Hamel on the first day of the battle of the Somme, the Hampshire’s remained there until 23rd July, the battalion entrained at Doullens for the quieter Ypres sector to reform. They found trenches there in need of some repair and were harassed by snipers during the day and machine fire at night. Trench duties alternated with rest at Elverdinghe, there was a lake there which provided a good bathing opportunity in the warmer weather.

August 8th in the evening an attack was commenced which was preceded by gas and this was beaten off however there were 70 casualties. Whilst they rested between 11th – 21st August Walter and his battalion returned to the line to relieve the Canadians.

South of the Menin Road where they beat off another attack on August 26th, there were another 20 casualties.

In September the Hampshire’s were at Zillebeke and there was another attack and a dozen casualties were recorded and Walter was one of those who was killed in action on 1st September.

His platoon Commander, Second Lieutenant C.J.Girling who sadly was killed seven weeks after Walter wrote a letter to Mrs. Pateman which said:

Dear Mrs. Pateman,

Pte. Pateman, who was killed during our last turn in the trenches, was in my platoon and I am writing to express my deepest sympathy with you and to tell you the circumstances in which he met his death. He was working in the trenches at night and was hit in the neck by a bullet. He was killed instantly and suffered no pain. He was buried the next night by the Chaplain of the battalion.

He died as so many fine men have died out here, doing his duty. Not in the excitement of an attack but merely carrying on, he had the bad luck to be hit. Out here we knew him as a sound soldier and a cheerful man under all circumstances. All who know him will, I am sure, sympathise sincerely with you in your loss.

Walter’s body was taken back to the advanced dressing station in the farm by the railway dugouts burial ground, Ypres where he is buried in grave v1.l.20.

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