Patrick McAteer

Rifleman Patrick McAteer

7303 Rifleman

‘D’ Company 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, 74th Infantry Brigade, 25 Division.

Age: 32

Date of Death: 5.8.17

Buried: Dickebusch New Military Cemetery Extension IV.A.5

Family history: Husband of Mary McAteer, 29 Milton Row, Dunipace. They had four children, the fourth child was named ‘Hugh Messines’

He enlisted in the Militia on 29 August 1903 in Belfast, Territorials from 1908, and went to France on 13 August 1914 with the 2nd Battalion.

The action leading to his death

The Battalion were in billets at the Ramparts, Ypres preparing to move into the line at Westhoek Ridge. During the move the Germans put down a heavy barrage which caused a number of casualties. The War Diary records: 2KIA and 4 wounded.

War Diary

(Ypres League Map showing Chateau Wood)

(IWM E(AUS) 1220 Australian troops walk along a duckboard track through the remains of Chateau Wood, Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele), 29 October 1917.)

The Falkirk Herald under the heading ‘Letters from the Front’ featured excerpts from letters Patrick had sent to his wife. He commented on the plight of the Belgian civilians, the conditions in the trenches and hoped that the people of Denny would respond to the plight of the Belgian civilians.

Falkirk Herald letter from Rifleman Patrick McAteer

Medals Awarded:

1914 Star and Clasp, The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Rifleman Patrick McAteer, ‘D’ Company 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, Medal Index Card