Walter Robert Pateman was born in Chailey in 1897, his birth recorded at Lewes in the June quarter of that year.  He appears on the 1901 census of England and Wales living with his family at Holford Cottage, Chailey.  The family comprised Thomas Pateman (head, aged 44, working as an ordinary agricultural labourer, his wife Elizabeth Jane Pateman (aged 41) and their seven children: Alice Pateman (aged 18, working as a general domestic servant), Frank Thomas Pateman (aged 17 working as an ordinary agricultural labourer), Faith Nellie Pateman (aged 13), Charity Hetty Pateman (aged 11), Percy Charles Pateman (aged 10), George Cecil Pateman (aged five) and Walter Robert Pateman (aged four).  The parents had been born in Chailey, as had Alice.  Frank had been born in Plumpton and all the other children had been born in East Chiltington.

 

Chailey Parish Magazine first mentions Walter Pateman in August 1916 noting, Pateman, Rif W, C/Co Rifle Brigade, India.  In October 1916 it reports that he is serving with the 24th Rifle Brigade in India and in January 1917 that he is with the 1/5th Royal West Kent Regiment.  His name appears for the final time in the parish magazine in December 1917 as: Pateman, Rif W, C/Co, 1/5 R W Kent.

 

Walter Pateman’s brother Percy and his cousins Alfred, Charles and Thomas Pateman MM also served their King and Country during the First World War.

 

 

Sources and Acknowledgements

 

• 1901 Census of England and Wales
• England and Wales Civil Registration Index 1837-1983
• Chailey Parish Magazine
• The East Sussex News