Matthew Pattinson

Matthew Henry Pattinson. M2/188727. Pte. Army Service Corps (ASC), KIA 12th April 1918, Ypres, Belgium.

Matthew was born at Colton and enlisted at Ulverston, he is referred to as a tractor driver in the Parish Magazine, the prefix M2 in his ASC number means mechanic or fitter, Caterpillar drivers needed to be both. Pte. Pattinson was killed at Ypres by a shell. He was in the 59th Motor Transport Company, attached to VIII Corps Heavy Artillery, 1st Army.

The "Westmorland Gazette" reported, "PATTINSON, Pte. Matthew Henry. Mrs Pattinson, Church View, Cartmel, has received official information that her husband, Pte. Matthew Henry Pattinson, Caterpillar Section of the Motor Transport Service, has been killed in action. He enlisted in June, 1916, and went to France in October of the same year. He was a renowned light-weight wrestler. Pte. Thomas writes;-"All our section wish to send you our deepest sympathy in your sad loss. He was a good fellow, and we feel the loss of him keenly." Pte. Pattinson was the grandson of the late Mr. Pattinson, of Crosslands Farm, Rusland, and leaves a widow and two young children. At one time he was gamekeeper to the Earl of Sefton's Abbeystead estate, Lancaster, and later acted in the same capacity on the Graythwaite Hall estate, for the late Col. T. M. Sandys, M.P., for Bootle." "Driver Pattinson was a member of family very well known throughout this district," wrote Reverend Smith.

The Army Service Corps, nicknamed "Ally Sloper's Cavalry" from a comic character, was responsible for backing up front line troops and could receive

A Holt Caterpiller pulls a Mk VII Gun through Bernafay Wood. (IWM)

higher pay, if they had a trade, up to 6 shillings a day, while standard army pay was 1 shilling per day. The Caterpillar Section, sometimes nicknamed the "Silkworm Gang" were often in dangerous situations, towing heavy calibre artillery across shell-torn ground, in range of the enemy guns. This is well illustrated by the fate of Private Pattinson.

Ypres Reservoir Cemetery. Ypres Cathedral Spire is just visible to the left of the Cross of Sacrifice.

The date of Matthew's death places it during the Battle of the Lys, when hard fighting took place from the Ypres Salient to Givenchy. The front line reached Hellfire Corner, just a few hundred yards down the Menin road, and Ypres town was even more heavily shelled than ever. Much ground had to be relinquished by the Allies, but the line held, due in no small part to 55th Division's stand at Givenchy.

Matthew is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Plot III, Row E, Grave 14, only a short walk from the famous Cloth Hall.

Matthew was living at his Grandfather's farm when he was twelve, in 1901. He was working as a gamekeeper at the Abbeystead estate (mentioned above), where he lodged with married gamekeeper, John Melrose at Lower Lee, Abbeystead in 1911. He married Lillian Gladys May Brindle in the third quarter of 1914. She was the daughter of a previous Abbeystead gamekeeper William Brindle, who was born at Newton in Furness, and lived at Lentworth Hall in 1901, but by 1911 she was living with her married sister at the Pye family home, Sea View, Bay Horse.

My father often talked about a gamekeeper who lived at the, now derelict, house in Seven Acres, just off the old track to Holker Bank. His name was Brindle and he was very strict, he made sure no-one strayed from the footpaths and disturbed the game, one story related how an old lady picking blackberries in Park Wood had her basket emptied and the fruit trampled into the ground.