Walter James Patterson (1916 - 1971)

Born 28 Jan 1916 in Ayr, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 8 May 1971 at age 55 in Townsville, Queensland, Australia

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Walter Patterson is an Anzac who served in World War Two.

Biography

Walter James Patterson was an ordinary bloke. He was the only son of Hilton Augustus Honeysett Patterson and Alice Allan, born in Ayr North Queensland on 28th Jan 1916 - Cert 16/003737. Walter had a tough start in life. His mother Alice Allan died in Ayr Hospital on 6th Feb 1916/1568 and was buried in Ayr Cemetery on 7th Feb 1916 in plot 306. The cause of death was Toxaemia following his birth. Later that year his father Hilton enlisted in the 31st Battalion [on 15th May 1916] Reg No. 4123, and embarked for France on the HMAT Boona on 21st Oct 1916.
Walter was left in the care of his grandmother Annie Allan who lived in James St, Ravenswood with her husband James, probably an engine driver at the gold mine.

Walter started at the Ravenswood Catholic school in 1922 and appears in a photograph taken that year. His father returned from the war on the HMAT Katoomba on 25th September 1919 with a new wife Ivy Helena (Bowden) who his father had married on 16th Feb 1919/ME7481. Ivy died on the 27th July 1940/3866 at the Delta Private Hospital and was buried Ayr Cemetery in plot 1554.

It is not known if Walter went to live with his father, stepmother, and step-sister on their banana plantation at Maidavale [near Hodel rail siding and Ayr].
He enlisted at Sellheim near Charters Towers for World War II Reg No Q32963 and was assigned to 36th Battalion but probably did not serve overseas. At the time he gave H Patterson as his next of kin. He was discharged on 28th June 1946.

Walter ended up working at the Pioneer Sugar Mill, and in 1963 he was boarding with Mrs Woodford in Graham St, Ayr.
Walter died on 9th May 1971 and was buried by Major W C Fawks of Townsville Salvation Army on 11th May 1971 in grave 24 section 3G in Belgian Gardens Cemetery. The grave is unmarked and lies next to Henry Louis Hop Yek near Jimmys Hill lookout..

Notice

Townsville Daily Bulletin (Qld. : 1885 - 1954), Tuesday 14 June 1949. ^[1] Walter James Patterson pleaded guilty before Mr. R. J. J. Hart S.M. on Monday to a charge of having used a Chevrolet motor truck without the consent of the owner, Allan Ricketts. He was convicted and sentenced to six months' imprisonment, sentence to be suspended upon the defendant entering a recognisance of £50 to be of good behaviour for 12 months. Patterson was also order- ed to pay the sum of £50 damage caused to the vehicle, or six months' imprisonment. Sub-Inspector Jesberg said a report was made to the police on Saturday night that a large motor truck was lying on its aide half-way across the road at Saltwater Creek, about 27 miles from Townsville. Constables Needham and Newman Went to the scene. The defendant was interviewed and he said that he and John Homer had visited Rollingstone, using a small Dodge utility. They had trouble with a wheel of the vehicle and Patterson returned to their camp and secured the larger truck and towed the utility back. Defendant and Homer then left the camp with the intention of going to Blue- water to get some tobacco. When driving up a hill defendant endeavoured to change gear, but failed to do so. When the truck continued to run backwards down the hill he attempted to apply the brakes, but also failed. The rear wheel mounted an embankment and the vehicle rolled over. Damage to the value of £50 was done to the vehicle.

Sources

1. ↑ https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/63058820

• Birth QLD BDM Index 1916 / C3737 Walter James Patterson (parents) Hilton Augusta Honeysett & Alice Allan
• Death QLD BDM Index 1971 / C3645 Walter James Patterson (parents) Hilton Augustus Honeysett Patterson & Alice Allan
• World War II Service National Archives Australia - Name Search PATTERSON WALTER JAMES : Service Number - Q32963 : Date of birth - 28 Jan 1916 : Place of birth - AYR QLD : Place of enlistment - SELLHEIM QLD : Next of Kin - PATTERSON
• World War II Service DVA Nominal Rolls PATTERSON, WALTER JAMES | Service Australian Army | Service Number Q32963 | Date of Birth 28 Jan 1916 | Place of Birth AYR, QLD | Date of Enlistment 17 Oct 1941 | Locality on Enlistment AYR, QLD | Place of Enlistment SELLHEIM, QLD | Next of Kin PATTERSON, H | Date of Discharge 28 Jun 1946 | Rank Private | Posting at Discharge 36 AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION | Prisoner of War No |
• AWM 36th Australian Infantry Battalion
• Wikipedia 36th Battalion (Australia)
• Link - https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L2TV-PXC