William Patten

William Patten was born in 1878 in Ramsden Bellhouse and  died, aged 38, on 18 August 1916 in  in France/Flanders.

In the 1881 census William, aged 3, is living with his parents David (aged 41, born 1840 Great Baddow) and Mary Ann (aged 41, born 1840 Ramsden Bellhouse) in Park Road, Ramsden Bellhouse with his siblings Charles 10, Ellen 8, John 5,  and George, 2 months.   His father’s occupation is baker’s journeyman.

The 1891 census, William aged 13,  ‘On Heath’, Ramsden Bellhouse with his parents and siblings, Ellen, John and George.  Father David is now a baker and a grocer, Ellen is an assistant domestic and John a baker.

In the 1901 census, aged 23 he was a salesman, boarding at 373 Portobello Road, Kensington.

In 1911 census,  aged 33, he was back living in Ramsden Heath  with his parents David and Mary Ann, both aged 71 and their granddaughter Alice Mary aged 14.  William’s occupation was commercial traveller haberdashery.

Private Patten enlisted aged 34 and unmarried on 7 September 1914 at Canterbury into the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs), 8th Battalion.  His service no. was G/737 (image 43341).  His occupation was a commercial traveller.  He was 5 ft 5 inches tall, weighed about 122 lbs., had a 34 inch chest (with a 3 inch expansion range), fresh complexion, blue eyes, red hair and a small brown  birthmark on the right side of his chest (image 43365).

William was wounded on 5 December 1915 and returned to England on the 15 December aboard HS David (image 43362) and hospitalized (in Cheltenham possibly) for treatment of a shrapnel wound on his right thigh.  He was discharged from hospital on 22 December 1915 (image 43345).  In 1916 he was treated for scabies.  He was promoted to Lance Corporal, but at his own request was demoted to Private on 11 August 1916 (image 43362).

At the time of his death, William had served his country, predominantly with the British Expeditionary Force, for 1 year 347 days (image 43364).

Private William Patten was awarded the BEF France 1914-1915 star, British War and Victory medals.