John Laidlaw Paterson

John Laidlaw Paterson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	5 Oct 1898
Place of Birth	Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Death	31 Jan 1983, aged 84
Place of Death	Karrinyup, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 8 months
Description	5'5" (1.m) tall ; 122lbs 55.338 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair
Occupation	Mechanic Apprentice
Religion	Church of England
Address	Division street, Welshpool, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Andrew Paterson
Military Information
Reg Number	7771
Date of Enlistment	11 Apr 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 26th Reinforcements
Date of Embarkation	29 Jun 1917 ‒ 25 Aug 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A30 Borda
Date of Return	19 Dec 1918 ‒ 27 Jan 1919
Ship Returned On	HMAT A60 Aeneas
Fate	Wounded in action 10 Aug 1918 at Lihons Returned to Australia
Monument	Canning Road Board Honour Roll
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had served with the militia's 38th Battery, Australian Field Artillery

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 11 Apr 1917, and on 8 May 1917 he was allocated to the 26th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion. John sailed with the group to England where they arrived in Plymouth before being sent to the 3rd Training Battalion at Durrington. On 25 Aug 1918 he proceeded overseas to France via Southampton and on 22 Jan 1918 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion.

Wounded on 10 Aug 1918 during the battalion's advance towards Lihons when they encountered very heavy German opposition that caused them to take very heavy casualties. Treated by the 15th Australian Field Ambulance, he was passed back to the 61st Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Evacuated on Ambulance train No. 29, he was admitted to the 22nd General Hospital at Camiers on 11 Aug 1918.

On 29 Aug 1918 he boarded a hospital ship for England at Le Havre, and was admitted to the Cambridge Hospital in Aldershot on 1 Sep 1918 with a gunshot wound to his right arm. On 3 Oct 1918 he was released form hospital and given leave until 17 Oct 1918. On his return to duty he was posted to the No.4 Command Depot at Hurdcott until he was shipped home to Australia. John was AWOL from midnight on 26 Nov until 2:00pm on 29 Nov 1918. He was required to perform 3 days Field Punishment No.2 and forfeited 3 days pay.

Discharged by the 5th Military District on 9 Mar 1919.

Post War

In 1922 John married Frances Catherine Williamson in Perth. Frances died on 6 Jun 1965, aged 65 in Scarborough. Son John William Paterson (1931-1969)

Electoral Roll entries: 1925 Corner of Sixth avenue and Robinson street, labourer; 1936 at 181 Sixth avenue, linesman; 1937 at 113 Ninth avenue, public servant; 1943 PO Quarters, Mundiwindi, linesman; 1949 at 92 Goderich street, East Perth, store keeper; 1958 - 1977 at 249 Woodside street, Scarborough, linesman; 1980 9/61 Jeanes road Karinyup.

John also served during WW2 having enlisted again on 26 Jan 1943 W94591, rank and unit not recorded.