96820: John Paterson
Iain Thormoid ‘ic Iain
John (1907-1990) was a son of Norman Paterson and Mary Maclean, 20 Brue
He married Mary Finlayson of 6 Brue. John and Mary lived at 20 Brue and they had six daughters.
On 18 July 1924 he enrolled in the Royal Naval Reserve under Service Number A11828 and subsequently re-enrolled under B7410, C6693 and D6180. John enrolled aged 17 and lied about his age as he was too young to enrol. He gave 25 July 1905 as his date of birth. His records state that he was 5ft 8½ in tall, with brown hair, grey eyes, a fresh complexion and a faint scar on the centre of his forehead.
John was a fisherman on Stornoway Registered SY163 in 1920 and in 1930 joined the Merchant Navy. He served on the SS Nagara, SS Churucca, SS Jervis Bay, SS Tamaroa and the SS Caledonia. He travelled to Australia, the North Pacific, Russia, New Zealand and New York.
In 1938 he was working ashore when he was Mobilised on 29 October and served in the Royal Navy throughout the Second World War. He served at HMS Orlando, HMS Victory, HMS Excellent, HMS Drake and aboard HMS Wren.
In 1843 John returned to Brue when he was allowed three weeks Agricultural Leave. On 27 July 1940 HMS Wren was bombed and sunk off the Suffolk Coast with the loss of 37 lives. John was rescued by another ship which was crewed by his brother-in-law, Kenneth Finlayson, 6 Brue. That ship was also bombed and sunk and he survived for the second time. John was given a Class A Release from the Royal Naval Reserve in 1 January 1946.
John died at 20 Brue and is buried in Barvas.
Details
- Record Type:
- Person
- Also Known As:
- Iain Hosie
- Date Of Birth:
- 1907
- Date of Death:
- 1990
- Gender:
- Male
- Brothers Keeper Reference:
- CEBB 1306
- Occupation:
- Fisherman; Royal Naval Reservist; Merchant Seaman; Royal Naval Seaman
- Record Maintained by:
- CEBB
Related Media
Crew of HMS Wren
John and Mary Paterson, 20 Brue