Victory Medal: Sapper S D Paterson, 3 Field Company Engineers, AIF

Victory Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details.

Stanley Duncan Paterson was born at Parattah, Tasmania, in November 1897. He was employed as a clerk when he enlisted in the AIF on 12 October 1914, claiming to be 'Nearly 18'. He had previously served in the cadets. His mother gave written permission for him to enlist in the 'clerical branch' of the Expeditionary Force. Paterson's service record suggests that he too was under the impression that he would be employed as a clerk.

After initial training Paterson was assigned as a sapper, service number 766, to the 1st reinforcements of 3 Field Company Engineers (3 FCE). He sailed for Egypt from Melbourne, on 22 December 1914, aboard the transport HMAT A38 Berrima. He joined his unit on arrival in Egypt, and was subsequently allocated a new service number, 225, on 26 February 1915.

3 FCE landed on Gallipoli in April. On 19 May, while the unit was employed at Quinn's Post, Paterson was killed by Turkish fire. Three other men were wounded in the incident. Paterson was buried at the Shrapnel Valley Cemetery. His mother later filled in a roll of honour circular in which she stated that he had been 17 years and 6 months old when he died. Consequently he had really been 'Nearly 17' when he enlisted in 1914.

Paterson's brother, Colin, was also killed in the war, on 16 April 1917, while serving with 10 Field Artillery Brigade in France, during the Second Battle of Bullecourt.