A PICTON HERO.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1513, 22 February 1916, Page 3

A PICTON HERO.

COLIN PATTERSON’S FINAL

STAND,

DETAILS BY FATHER CORE

The following letter has been received from the Rev Father Dore, and published in the Marlborough Press, respecting the death of Trooper Colin Patterson, sou of Mr and Mrs Matthew Patterson, of Picton, and nephew of Mr H. C. Patterson, of Foxtou. The letter is written from the Military Hospisal, Devonport, where Father Dore was recovering from a severe wound received at the front, and was dated December 12th, X 915 : “The following is an exact account of Colin Patterson’s last hours as I saw him,” he writes, and also as given me by Lieutenant Taylor, his troop officer, who is at present a p '■ In this hospital. He (Colin) was struck by a bullet in the fore part of the head on Sunday, May 30th, at 3.45 p.m. A doctor from the Australian Light Horse Regiment, attended him within a couple of hours after the occurrence. The doctor, who attended the soldier at great personal risk, stated there was no hope Tom the beginning. At the time Colin was shot, he was with his troop holding No. 1 outpost, which faced the sea about a mile on the northern side of the Anzac landing stage. About midnight we succeeded in getting him to the nearest dressing station, and he died within half an hour of his arrival there. I administered the last sacraments, and did whatever was necessary for his spiritual comfort. He did not speak after being hit. The following morning he was buried in the cemetery known as ’Canterbury Cemetery,’ which is an enclosed piece of ground beside the dressing station, but nearer by 50 yards to the sea. The spot where Colin lies is marked by a large stone at the head, with his name, rank, regiment and date of death engraved on it, while the grave itself is covered with those lovely sea pebbles taken from the beach near by. I might state, on the authority of his own officers, lhat, on the day he was struck, Colin was responsible lor saving the lives of several, perhaps twenty, of his fellows, when, by bis good shooting, he prevented the enemy from advancing on our men. His note book, which contained information about military happenings, and was thus stopped from being sent to Lis next of kin by the censor, is in safe keeping, and will be sent home at the first opportunity.”