Second Lieutenant J. H. Patterson, 3rd Bn. Essex Regiment, attached 1st Bn. Executed for murder 24/09/1918 Name:PATERSON, JOHN H.Initials:J HNationality:United KingdomRank:Second LieutenantRegiment/Service:Essex RegimentUnit Text:3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn.Secondary Regiment:Essex RegimentDate of Death:24/09/1918Casualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:IV. B. 48.Cemetery:TERLINCTHUN BRITISH CEMETERY, WIMILLE Does anyone know the story behind this chap?
2nd Lieutenant John Paterson 3rd Bn attached 1st Bn Essex Regiment Shot 24 September 1918 Shot at Dawn for Murder One of only three officers who were shot during the First World War. Paterson had originally joined the 17th Bn Middlesex Regiment (The Footballing Battalion) as an enlisted soldier. He arrived in France at the end of the 1915 and was wounded twice during the Battle of the Somme. In 1917 he was commissioned from the ranks and sent to the 1st Bn Essex Regiment in September 1917. Six months later he deserted and made his way to Boulogne where he was recognised on the 3rd July 1918 by two members of the RMP (Military Police). Paterson admitted his identity but was allowed into a house to say goodbye to a French lady. The two policemen remained outside the house to prevent their prisoner from escaping. In trying to slip out the back of the house Paterson was confronted by Sergeant Harold Collison whom Paterson shot with his revolver. In the ensuing fracas Paterson made good his escape. Collison died of his wounds the following day. The search for Paterson moved to St Omer where he was arrested by French Gendarmes. Although charged with both desertion and murder Paterson was only tried for the latter, found guilty and sentenced to death. From Terlincthun British Cemetery, Boulogne sur Mer
Interesting. Can't find Sergeant Harold Collison on CWGC though-I was wondering if they were in the same cemetery and if so how close they were to each other.
I wonder if this is the Sergeant. Casualty Details Name:COLLISONInitials:H ANationality:United KingdomRank:SerjeantRegiment/Service:Military Police CorpsUnit Text:G.H.Q. Detective Staff.Date of Death:04/07/1918Service No:P/3479Awards C MCasualty Type:Commonwealth War DeadGrave/Memorial Reference:IV. C. 13.Cemetery:LES BARAQUES MILITARY CEMETERY, SANGATTE Regards Tom
