War Memorial Park.co.uk
In Memory of
Private WILLIAM IVENS PATCHETT
310976, 1st/1st, Warwickshire Yeomanry
who died of wounds age 38
on 14 November 1917
William
was born on the 4th July 1879. He married Ellen Robinson Colton on
the 13th June 1904. They had two children Nellie born the 8th September
1905 (died 14th May 1997) and William Charles Herbert born 26th October
1910 (died 16th April 1918). William Ivens Patchett was described as a
Printer of Clifton Rugby, on his marriage certificate but as a Compositor
on his son`s birth certificate where his residence was stated as 7 Manor
Rd, Rugby.
William Ivens`
father was Bethuel Patchett born 9 May 1853, died in 1933. Bethuel
was the fourth child of his father, Robert. Bethuel had a sister Mary and
brothers Robert and William Ivens – clearly the inspiration for Williams
names and future generation including his son and grandson
Terry Williams Patchett. The William name now exists through four
generations. Bethuel had eleven children, seven of them boys; two of these
died in infancy and one when 17 years old. William Ivens Patchett produced
two children.
A letter written by
William Ivens send to his two
children who were 11 and 6 years old as he observed the Bedouin
gathering corn and tending their animals, a second sent to his wife Ellen
from Egypt following a rough sea passage through the Bay of Biscay in the
Saturnia “dodging submarines” which commences “My own Darling
Wife” and ending ”Your
ever loving and devoted husband.”
The Manchester Guardian
of Monday 12 November 1917 which gave an account of the action on 8
November in Palestine in
which William Ivens Patchett was
wounded and subsequently died. “Details have now been received of an
action of the Warwickshire Yeomanry. A G.O.C. reconnoitring near Huj saw a
considerable body of the enemy with guns marching about 2,500 yards away
in a north-easterly direction. He ordered the Yeomanry to charge the
retiring enemy. The charge was at once carried out, in face of heavy gun
and machine-gun and rifle fire, with a gallantry and dash worthy of the
best traditions of British cavalry. Twelve guns were captured, the
Austrian gunners being killed or wounded at the guns. Three machine guns
and 100 prisoners were also captured. This completely broke the hostile
resistance and enabled us to push on to Huj.”
Private W.I.Patchett (31076), but described elsewhere as Trooper (3061), 1st /1st , Warwickshire Yeomanry, 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division was shot. His Field Medical Card bears details of his transfer to 53rd Divisional Field Ambulance (Immobile) with a gun shot wound ( back wound). He suffered tympanites and retention of urine. His wound was redressed at 21.15 when he was catheterised. A.T. 500 units were injected and ¼ gm. of morphine. He died on 14 November. H.C.Alan Williams, 2nd I/C squadron, wrote to his widow Ellen on 13 December apologising for the delay : he had experienced difficulty gaining her address. He said, “Your husband was a brave and gallant soldier and died taking part in one of the most brilliant charges of the war. It was only by having such men that made the operation possible. His death must have been instantaneous and he was buried within a few yards of the guns he so nobly assisted in capturing. Always so willing, reliable and thorough it was a real pleasure to command men like him and I shall miss him personally very much when I return to the regiment.” He was in error about William Ivens Patchetts date of death does make one wonder how genuine was his knowledge and personal concern. Officers faced the grim task of writing dozens (hundreds?) of these sympathy letters and they were kind enough to heap praise in order to bring maximum comfort.
William Ivens Patchett was buried in a local grave and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission state he is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, grave ref. P 29. His widow, was informed that his remains had been exumed and re-buried in Beersheba Military Cemetery. His widow Ellen then resident at 6 Rowland Street, Rugby faced the task of supporting her two children aged 12 and 7 but a large Patchett family lived in Rugby and rallied to bring comfort and practical assistance. Ellen lived a widow for a further 18 years and died in a Coventry hospital in 1935 having been cared for by her daughter in her final months of illness.
Terrence William Patchett born 11 May 1941, Williams grandson. ascribes his sporting ability and especially my cricket to grandfather William Ivens. Williams memorial tree is to be located in the S.E. corner of the ornamental section of the Memorial Park, near the railway line and entrance to the sports pitches, second row, third tree from the path. The trees were planted in 1935 and W.I. Patchett`s name is also engraved on the War Memorial in Rugby.
Many thanks to Terry Ivens Patchett for this Information
Remembered with honour
BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY
Commemorated in perpetuity
by
the Commonwealth War Graves Commission