PATTLE, William
No. 12204, Private, William John PATTTLE
Aged 21
7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Thursday 23rd March, 1916
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There are two William John PATTLE on the births registers for Newmarket in 1895, one in Q1:1895[Newmarket 3b:547] and one in Q2:1895[Newmarket 3b:523] but both
give mother's maiden name as LAYTON, so perhaps a duplicate entry. As the school gives a date of birth as the 7th February, the 3b:547 registration would appear to be the correct one "Soldier's Personal Effects " record gives father as William. William John Pattle, born 7th February 1895 in Landwade, Exning, son of William James and Mary Ann PATTLE (née LAYTON). 1901 census...At 4 Jockey Club Cottages, Exning were William J.PATTLE [6] born Landwade, Exning with his father William [30] Agr.Labourer born Fordham and his mother Mary [29] born Soham, and his sister Edith M [4] born Landwade He was admitted to Exning Board school on 1st October 1902, which gives his birth as on 7th February 1895. He left the school on 30th July 1908. 1911 census...At Vine Terrace, Oxford Street, Exning were William J [16] general labourer, his father [39] maltsters labourer, mother Mary [38] and sister Edith Mary [14] a domestic nurse. |
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The 7th Suffolks were just north of Loos that week, having just taken over Northampton Trench from the 5th Royal Bucks at 2:30 pm, on 22nd, between Auchy-les-Mines and Vermelles. On 22nd, around 8:30 pm a mine exploded to the left of our front and provoked heavy machine gun fire. The next day the German artillery shelled Northampton Trench with 77s and in the afternoon, shelled Sticky Trench with heavy High Explosive. Our artillery retaliated on St. Elie and their shelling stopped. The Suffolks appear to have been 'enjoying' a quiet spell as they only had 4 deaths the whole week. Whether it was shell or a sniper that wounded William is not known. William's entry in "Our Exning Heroes" reads as follows: Pattle, W. 7th Suffolks William Pattle living with his parents at Vine Terrace joined up at the commencement of the war. He had his training at Shorncliffe and went out to France in May of the following year. He was very severely wounded in the head on March 22nd, 1916, and died the next day. His mother died of consumption about a month before, and he obtained leave to come home and remain here till after the funeral. After leaving school he worked first on the land and subsequently for Mr. Norman at the Laundry. He was only 21 when he was killed. |
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