Andrew Meek Paterson

Died on the 11/02/1918 of acute alcoholic poisoning in Salonika

Andrew and the 11th (Service) Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) arrived at Boulogne on the 20/09/1915 but sailed for Salonika in November 1915. They were part of the 77th Brigade, 26th Division. Andrew was formerly with the 11th (Service) Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles 14879). He joined the 9th (Service) Battalion on the 11/11/1915. The were part of the 28th Brigade, 9th (Scottish) Division and took part in the Battle of Loos, 25th September - 15th October 1915. The Battalion then transferred to 27th Brigade and took part in the Battle of Albert, 1st - 13th July, the Battle of Bazentin in which the Division also captured Longueval, 14th - 17th July, the Battle of Delville Wood, 15th July - 3rd September and the Battle of Le Transloy, 1st - 18th October. These were phases of the Battles of the Somme, 1916. Andrew was transferred to the Royal Army Service Corps on the 08/04/1917. The 346th Mechanical Transport Company were part of the 34th Division in France, but moved to Salonika as Army troops and then attached to the 28th Division. The Division took part in the capture of Ferdie and Essex Trenches (near Barakli Jum'a) on the 15/05/1917 and the capture of Barakli and Kumli on the 16/10/1917. Andrew died of acute alcoholic poisoning (see Service Records 2,3,4,7,8,9). He had served for nearly 3 and a half years. See Service Record 7 for a letter sent to the Officer Commanding the 27th Casualty Clearing Station by J.R.C. Gordon who performed a post mortem examination on Andrew on the 11/02/1918. Andrew was 5ft 5 and a half and weighed 144 Ibs. He had blue eyes and fair hair. See Service Records 20, 21 and 29 for letters regarding Andrew's next of kin receiving his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. Andrew is also remembered on the Gartsherrie Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for Andrew's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, his Service Records x 29 (lots of information here), Lahana Military Cemetery, Andrew's previous Regiment the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Cap Badge and the Army Service Corps Cap Badge. Andrew's grave inscription reads "FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING".