B36812 Corporal Edward “Ted” St Julian Patterson was born in Hamilton, Ontario, on 21 April 1920. The son of William George Patterson and Elizabeth Penman, he had two brothers, Thomas and John. A younger brother William George had predeceased him. He attended Gibson Avenue School and Frank E. Close Technical School in Hamilton and left at aged 16. He declared his religion as Presbyterian.

Patterson worked as a proofreader for American Sales Book when he enlisted with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry on 2 September 1939. He would eventually be posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada.

Patterson seems to have had a challenging relationship with the army, highlighted by his numerous violations of regulations. His many absences without leave included three-plus months in mid-1942 and five weeks in September and October 1944.

He survived the D-Day landing with B Company on 6 June 1944 and was wounded with a shell fragment on 18 July that same year.  Despite a chequered army record, he was promoted to Corporal one week before his death, suggesting he had developed some leadership skills.

Service Record:

• 2 Sep 1939 – Enlisted with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry
• Served and trained in Hamilton and Camp Borden
• 19 Sep 1940 – Posted to W Force in Newfoundland and posted to Queen’s Own Rifles
• 21 Dec 1941 – Furlough from QOR in Sussex, New Brunswick
• 10 Feb 1941 – Struck off Strength as a deserter
• 20 Feb 1941 – Surrendered and taken back on strength with QOR
• 20 Jul 1941 – Posted to #2 District Depot in Toronto
• 1 Oct 1941 – Posted to A-11 I.(A) T.C.
• 2 Feb 1942 – Awarded 24 hours detention – forfeits 62 days pay and allowance for absence without leave.
• 16 Mar 1942 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 1 May 1942 – Reverts to Private for absence without leave
• 9 May 1942 – Transfers as a reinforcement to QOR
• 13 Jul 1942 – Declared illegally absent – forfeits 26 days pay
• 29 Oct 1942 – Taken back on strength from illegal absence
• 18 Nov 1942 – Award 8 days detention – forfeits 20 days pay
• 22 Jan 1943 – Forfeits 4 days pay for 3+ days absence without leave
• 1 Mar 1943 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 18 Mar 1943 – Reports for duty in the United Kingdom
• 21 May 1943 – Posted to Queen’s Own Rifles
• 15 Jun 1943 – 7 days confined to barracks and forfeit 7 days pay
• 29 Jun 1943 – 10 days confined to barracks and forfeits 4 days pay
• 29 Dec 1943 – Reverts to Rifleman
• 15 Jan 1944 – 7 days confined to barracks and forfeit 5 days pay
• 25 Apr 1945 – 5 days confined to barracks and forfeits 13 days pay
• 6 Jun 1944 – Lands in France on D-Day
• 15 Jul 1944 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 18 Jul 1944 – Wounded with shell fragment in his right calf
• 18 Jul 1944 – Reverts to Rifleman while recovering
• 30 Jul 144 – Back to QOR as Lance Corporal
• 2 Sep 1944 – Reprimanded and forfeits 9 days pay
• 14 Aug 1944 – Transferred to hospital
• 24 Sep 1944 – Returns to QOR
• 24 Sep 1944 – Absent without leave
• 12 Oct 1944 – Apprehended from absence without leave and forfeits 28 days pay
• 2 Nov 1944 – Transferred to reinforcement list
• 4 Nov 1944 – Arrives back in North West Europe
• 7 Nov 1944 – Posted to Queen’s Own Rifles
• 9 Nov 1944 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 18 Nov 1944 – Appointed Acting Corporal
• 19 Feb 1945 – Promoted to Corporal
• 26 Feb 1945 – Killed in Action

Corporal Patterson was killed in action during Operation Blockbuster on 26 February 1945, aged 23. He is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference VIII. D. 10. His family had the following engraved on his marker:

BELOVED SON OF
W.G. & E. PATTERSON.
HE GAVE HIS LIFE
IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM