Ancestor Details
Ancestor's Name: Eugene Daylesford Patterson
Ancestor's date of birth: 13/08/1865
Ancestor's date of death: 12/11/1934
Cause of Death: Arteriosclerosis, Pneumonia
Service Number: 2462
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Applicable, Place of Enlistment: Cape Town
Unit: Robert's Horse in Cape Colony and Orange Free State
Rank attained in Boer War: CPL, Date Effective: 01/04/1900
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): CPL, Date Effective: 31/05/1901
Murray Page: Not Applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit
Contingent: Not Applicable, did not serve in an Australian unit
Ship: SS Nineveh, Date of Sailing: 23/12/1899
Other Boer War Service: Active duty with Midland Mounted Rifles then Agent with Field Intelligence and finally Auctioneer of Army Surplus items within region
Memorial details: Buried in family gravesite at Box Hill Cemetery Victoria Aust.
Decorations: DCM, QSA,+8, KSA+2
Personal Characteristics: Excellent horseman, well regarded bushman, got the job done, totally committed to the cause,enjoyed a laugh and got on well with others around him. Known as "Euie". Did not suffer fools gladly if they put others at risk.
Reasons to go and fight: Royalist loyal to Queen and Country. Brother Charles involved with Victorian Mounted Rifles. Euie had no reason not to go to war when his Queen and the Flag needed him.
Details of service in war: Despatch rider for CO. Relief of Kimberley; Paardeburg, Dreifontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen in Roberts Horse together with duties in Orange Free State and Cape Colony when assigned by Midland Mounted Rifles. Won DCM for his successful carrying of despatches to Broadwoods Column from Camp 12 miles outside Vredeforto and returning again under fire - during his return he saved a young officer named Hilton who had accompanied him as one of three lookouts. The other two lookouts were captured and Hilton's horse was shot from beneath him and Euie went back, retrieved the young man and got despatches safely back to CO. This was the third time during the campaign he had managed to return safely under fire.
Service and life after the Boer War: After being discharged as medically unfit to continue active duties with Roberts Horse on 11th February 1901 Euie had one month of leave in Cape Town. Unsatisfied with his effort he then joined the local Midland Mounted Rifles on 20th March 1901 and fought with them until war's end serving under Douglas Haig and then transferring to General French. He worked as an Agent in Field Intelligence for much of his latter time in the war. After completion of the war he worked as an Auctioneer with Army Surplus before marrying Eadith Mary Pfohl on 13th December 1902, having 3 daughters and then returning to Australia on SS Persic on 28th November 1910. He and Eadith had another daughter and then a son. Euie continued working as an Accountant, Auctioneer and book keeper in both Melbourne and his birth town of Daylesford.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Pamela D Hore, Burwood East VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand-daughter
