Name
James Thomas Pate
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
56009
Royal Engineers
64th Field Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hitchin memorials
Pre War
James was born in 1879 in Hitchin and christened on 14 November 1879 in St. Marys, Hitchin. His parents were George and Elizabeth Pate (née Day) who had married in St Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 28 April 1878.
In 1881 the family were living at Parcels Yard, Hitchin. Present were both parents, George (26) and Elizabeth (27), with George working as a railway labourer. Their children were: Rebecca (6) and James (2), Also present were members of Elizabeth’s family; her widowed mother Letty Day (58) working as a laundress and, brothers Frederick Day (19) a milkman and George Day (17) a shoemaker’s apprentice.
In 1891 the family were living at 14 Brook Road, Islington, London. Present were both parents, with George working as a labourer. James was there, as was Mary Pate (79), George’s mother
James enlisted into the Royal Engineers on the 4 August 1896, when he was 18 years and 5 months old and had previously been n labourer. His attestation papers confirm that he was born in Hitchin and at that time he was already serving in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers which was a volunteer regiment predating the Territorial Forces. He was described as 5’ 4 ¾” tall, 119 lbs, having a 36” chest (fully expanded), had a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair with tattoos on both forearms. So he became a full time soldier Driver 29831.
He accepted new Army terms on 15 April 1898, received good conduct pay on 4 August 1898 and left the Army, time expired, on 3 August 1899, and became part of the Army Reserve the day after.
He was recalled from the Reserve on 9 October 1899 – presumably in connection with the Boer War. The returned to the Army Reserve on 30 April 1902 and received £5 “Deferred Pay” then a “South African War Gratuity” of £5 in June.
He was re-engaged as a driver on 4 August 1908 – no reason given and then discharged on 3 August 1912
His service was summarised as Home 4/8/1896 to 3/11/1899, South Africa 4/11/1899 to 13/8/1900 and Home 14/8/1900 to 30/4/1902, although, for some reason, this was later crossed out and amended to 3/8/1912.
His service records also record that his next of kin were his parents George and Elizabeth Pate, living at 14 Brook Road, Upper Holloway, Middlesex and that he a sister Rebecca’ These next of kin records were superseded after he married Priscilla Marlow (b 20/12/1877) on Highgate Hill, London on 6 October 1901.
In 1901 his parent were living at Brook Road, Upper Holloway, Islington, London – possibly 14, but the houses along this street appear to be multiple occupancies. George was working as a builder’s labourer. James was also there, presumably on leave and listed as soldier, gunner and driver R.E. We know that later that year he married Priscilla Marlow. Their first child, George Charles Reuben was born in 1902 and then Louisa Sarah Elizabeth was born in April 1904.
In 1905 a record for James Thomas Pate was found living at 11 Witley Road, Islington and appears to have been sharing that accommodation with Edwin Leonard Horne, but perhaps this is just another man with the same name or perhaps he was working away from home.
A third child, Rose Isabel, was born in July 1908.
By 1911 James (33) and Priscilla (33) were living at 2 Pemberton Terrace, Upper Holloway, London N. James was working as a postman. The census recorded they had been married for 9 years with 3 children, i.e. those names above, George, Louisa and Rose. Priscilla’s widowed mother Sarah Marlow (68) was also there.
The Soldiers Died In The Great War database records that he was born in Hitchin, Herts. and was living in Holloway, Middx. when he enlisted in Islington, Middx.
Wartime Service
It seems likely that he was called up from the Reserve, but he may have volunteered.
He landed in France on 11 May 1915 and served with the 64th Field Company. Royal Engineers.
The date of his death coincides with the huge German Spring Offensive which nearly broke the British lines, and it is likely that they are related. It also likely that he was originally posted as missing. There is a German document recording that they handed over the identification marks (service tags) for Nr. 56009, Pate, J T., presumably to the Red Cross, and much later.
His body was not found after the war and he is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, in France.
Additional Information
After his death a war gratuity £16 10s 0d was authorised to go to his widow, Priscilla, on 30 December 1919. Any pay owing appears to have been wiped out by a debtor bill.
Later, a war gratuity of £5 was authorised to be paid to her/him on 7 November 1919.
His pension cards record Priscilla Pate as his widow and his dependant, living at 9 Hargreave Park, Upper Holloway, London. N. It also records their children as Louisa Sarah Elizabeth (b 8/4/1904), Rose Isabel (b 17/7/1908) and James Thomas (b 24/1/1912). She was awarded a grant of £5 on 27 April 1918 and then a pension of 29s 7d a week from 21 October 1918 for her and the children.
As he had worked for the Post Office he wife was awarded a gratuity of £107 17s 18d in June 1918.
Probate was obtained by his widow on 1 Jul 1918, with the value of his effects £197.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild
