CAPTAIN EDWARD PATEY, 3RD BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE.


CAPTAIN EDWARD PATEY, 3RD BATTALION RIFLE BRIGADE. KILLED IN ACTION 2nd AUGUST 1917 AGED 35

Born in Bickley, Kent in 1882, Edward Patey was the son of Henry Bennett Patey and his wife Helen. His father was a senior employee with the General Post Office in London and who was able to provide a comfortable living for his family. Edward was sent as a border to Hereford Cathedral School and then attended Hertford College, Oxford where he studied Modern History, graduating in 1904.


The death of Edward's father saw the family move to Norwich where after graduation he gained employment as a teacher at the local grammar school. At some stage before the war Edward obtained a teaching position at Clevedon House a private prep school which until recently was on Ben Rhydding Drive in Ilkley.

In 1914 Edward enlisted as a private in the 18th Royal Fusiliers, a public school's battalion which recruited men who had attended private school. On 14th november 1915 he arrived in France where he remained until  early 1916 when he returned home to complete officer training. In August 1916 Edward returned to France and by early September had joined his new unit the 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

It seems that Edward remained with this unit throughout the remainder of 1916 and into the following year when by stages he was promoted to the rank of captain. In July 1917 the 3rd Rifle Brigade moved in the Ypres Salient in preparation for an attack on the Pilkem Ridge which overlooked the city. The battalion was involved in the initial attacks on the ridge but suffered relatively light casualties and gained some of its objectives. Remaining in the front line after the initial stage of the battle, the Rifle Brigade sought to consolidate their positions. On the 2nd August Edward was leading a patrol near to a position known as Bodmin Wood when he was hit by German machine gun fire and killed

Sadly, the body of Captain Edward Patey was not recovered and today he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing. He is also remembered with pride on our war memorial here in Ilkley.

Information about Edwards war service courtesy Andy Pay. Great War Forum

Comments

  1. George CleggNovember 4, 2023 at 3:12 PM

    Hi there. I'm doing some research into the family and circumstances of death of those Old Herefordians who appear on the Hereford Cathedral School WW1 memorial in Hereford Cathedral (including Edward). Can I ask what your source of reference was that detailed that he attended Hertford College, Oxford where he studied Modern History, graduating in 1904? Any other reference links would be appreciated. Many thanks, George Clegg (clegger_10to15@hotmail.co.uk)

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