TOPIC:

How nice that a Private got such an impressive memorial. It's in St Peter's churchyard, Formby, Lancashire (but now Merseyside) and, interestingly, there's a similar memorial in the Catholic churchyard in Formby, also to a Boer War Private. A case of the two churches planning the memorials in unison?



ERECTED IN MEMORY OF
PRIVATE PETER PATTEN
D COMPANY 3RD . VOLUNTEER BATTALION
THE KING'S [LIVERPOOL] REGIMENT,
WHO DIED APRIL 5TH, 1901,
AT ELANDSFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA,
IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY IN
THE BOER WAR
AGED 22 YEARS.

"HONOUR THE BRAVE"

Berenice,

Another lovely memorial and, as you say, unusual for a private.

According to the rolls, 7778 Pte Patten died 5 Apr 01 in SA. He earned the clasps Belfast, CC, Laing's Nek and SA01.

In Memoriam records he is buried in Primrose Cemetery, Germiston and that he died of wounds

The Times on 5 Apr 01 reported that he was seriously, accidentally wounded, self inflicted, Springs, 2 Apr 01.

On 10 Apr 01, The Times reported that he had died of his wounds on 5 Apr.

I wonder what happened to him?

Berenice,

This site ( www.9thkings.co.uk/VolCoyQSA.html ) says of him:

Died through accidentally shooting himself whilst on outpost duty shortly before the company left for England.

On 16 July 1901, Private Patten's father received a memorial tribute medal from the people of Southport & Formby.

The presentation was made by the Mayor of Southport, in the the 3rd V.B.K.L.R. Drill Hall, Formby:

"The Mayor then handed the medals to the four yeomen named, and the Colonel announced that two others who had gone out had died, namely Troopers ROBINSON and Peter PATTEN, and he asked if there were any representatives of the deceased troopers present. There was no one present on behalf of ROBINSON, but Mr Thomas Patten, father of Trooper PATTEN (who died of wounds), stepped forward and received the medal as a memento of the services of his deceased son". Formby Times, 20th July 1901.

The report wrongly identifies Patten & Robinson as IY troopers.

SEE: SOUTHPORT & FORMBY TRIBUTE MEDAL


..