PATERSON, James Hugh MBE

PATERSON, James Hugh – A Southern Downs Veteran

CONFLICT : WWII
SERVICE NO : 414076
RANK : Warrant Officer
UNIT : 220 Squadron
ENLISTMENT DATE : 20/07/1941
AGE : 32
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT : Brisbane, Queensland
PLACE OF BIRTH : Perthshire, England
RELIGION : Presbyterian
OCCUPATION : Grazier
DATE OF DEATH : 19/06/1984
PLACE OF BURIAL : Barcaldine, Queensland

MEMORIALS : Barcaldine Roll of Honour WWII

View this person’s Service File : PATERSON, James Hugh

NOTES : James and two of his brothers, Thomas Skene Paterson QX1200 and David Skene Paterson 405931 Killed in Action, served in WWII. As his older brother John Moffat Paterson was a grazier, he was deemed to be in an essential home service and thus not eligible to enlist.

Their parents were David Skene and Lucy Neal Paterson (nee Moffat).

James was attached to the Royal Airforce’s Costal Command for 2 years. After his discharge on March 31, 1945, he became very involved in the Barcaldine community and the running of pastoral pursuits on his property Croxley and the Home Creek property.

He was awarded the Member of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 1963 for services to Local Government and the Barcaldine District.

James spent 28 years as a member of the Barcaldine Shire Council, 17 years on the Queensland Local Government Committee, 13 years as a member of the Australian Council of Local Government.

In addition to this, he was the foundation President of the Barcaldine Diggers Race Club for 4 years and trustee of their R.S.L. Memorial Hall. James was President of the Show society for 20 years. He founded the Sub Chamber of Western Queensland Shows in 1950, and spent 18 years as a member of the Executive of the Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies.

Read about Southern Downs Military History here.