Studio portrait of WX7016 Private (Pte) James Laidlaw Paterson, 2/28 Battalion, of Claremont, WA; ...

Studio portrait of WX7016 Private (Pte) James Laidlaw Paterson, 2/28 Battalion, of Claremont, WA; formerly of Aberdeen, Scotland. Pte Paterson was a clerk prior to enlisting in the 2nd AIF on 30 July 1940. He embarked for service in the Middle East on 4 January 1941 and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) in August 1941. The 2/28 Battalion fought at El Alamein from 17 July 1942, and took part in the attack on Ruin Ridge on 27 July 1942. The Battalion suffered heavy losses and nearly 500, including L/Cpl Paterson, became prisoners of war. On 17 August 1942 approximately 2000 prisoners of war, including L/Cpl Paterson and 200 other Australians, were being transported from camps in Benghazi, Libya, to Italy, aboard the Italian ship Nino Bixio. The ship was attacked by submarine RN Turbulent and over 300 prisoners were killed, including 39 Australians. It was initially reported that L/Cpl Paterson died during the attack, however it was later reported that he died at sea of exhaustion on 26 August 1942. He was 26 years of age.