Private Mervyn Kyle Patterson
Mervyn Kyle Patterson was born at Mullaghslin, Sixmilecross, County Tyrone, the third or fourth of four children of farmer John Patterson and his wife Mary (nee Campbell). By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Mullaghslin with his parents and two surviving siblings and working on the family farm.
Patterson enlisted in the North Irish Horse between 1 February and 2 April 1913 (No.810). He embarked for France with A Squadron on 17 August 1914, seeing action on the retreat from Mons and advance to the Aisne.
In May 1916 A Squadron came together with D and E Squadrons to form the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to VII, XIX, then V Corps until February-March 1918. Patterson, however, was one of about thirty men of the regiment who, on 9 July 1917, were transferred to the Labour Corps (No.333701) and posted to No.664 Home Service Labour Company. In most cases the men were no longer physically fit for front-line service. He remained in this role until the end of the war.
Discharged on 8 March 1919, Patterson was granted a disability pension due to 'concussion' which was attributed to his service, and 'varicose veins' aggravated by his service.