Paterson, George 15758 (1897 - 1916)

Private, 17th Bn. Highland Light Infantry

Buried at Thiepval Memorial

Commemorated at

George served with the Glasgow Commercial Battalion which was a Pals Battalion and also known as the 17th Highland Light Battalion.

He was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916. On 1 July 1916, the day George died, supported by a French attack to the south, thirteen divisions of Commonwealth forces launched an offensive on a line from north of Gommecourt to Maricourt. Despite a preliminary bombardment lasting seven days, the German defences were barely touched and the attack met unexpectedly fierce resistance. Losses were catastrophic and with only minimal advances on the southern flank, the initial attack was a failure. In the following weeks, huge resources of manpower and equipment were deployed in an attempt to exploit the modest successes of the first day. However, the German Army resisted tenaciously and repeated attacks and counter attacks meant a major battle for every village, copse and farmhouse gained. At the end of September, Thiepval was finally captured. The village had been an original objective of 1 July. Attacks north and east continued throughout October and into November in increasingly difficult weather conditions. The Battle of the Somme finally ended on 18 November with the onset of winter.

Born in Glasgow, George was a late member of the 39th Glasgow (Thornliebank) Company of Boy Scouts. George was the son of Hugh Paterson, of Works Cottage, Thornliebank, Glasgow.

Memorials: George's body was never recovered and he is remembered at Thiepval Memorial; the Scout Roll of Honour (www.scoutsrecords.org/catalogue.php, although his name is spelt Pattison) and on the Scottish National War Memorial.