villageVC
On 1 December 1917 at Gonnelieu, France, when a unit on Captain Paton's left was driven back, leaving his company surrounded, he walked up and down adjusting the line, within 50 yards of the enemy, under a withering fire.
He personally removed several wounded men and was the last to leave the village. Later he again adjusted the line and when the enemy counter-attacked four times, each time sprang on to the parapet, deliberately risking his life, in order to stimulate his men.
He was eventually mortally wounded.
GEORGE TATHAM-PATON's link to Little Hallingbury was that his father rented Maltings Farm, the building to left of Little Hallingbury War Memorial and George lived there at the time of his joining the army.
Whilst his father was active in village life, I can find no proof both of George's parent lived in Little Hallingbury, it would seem his parents lived in Surrey and Maltings was rented as a home for George.
The following is from 1981 No 4 of The Grenadier Gazette
Kindly donated by Stuart from Bishops Stortford to LITTLE HALLINGBURY VILLAGE HISTORY
Captain Paton was born on 3 October 1895, at Innellan, Argyllshire, and was a son of George William Paton, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Messrs Bryant and May Ltd, and of Mrs Etta Tatham Paton, of 3, Whitehall Court, SW1. He was educated at Rottingdean School and at Clifton College. He entered the Army in September 1914, and was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 1 October 1914, to the 17th County of London Regt., and promoted Lieutenant on 3 October 1915. He transferred in January 1916 to the Grenadier Guards, was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 28 January 1916, and became Acting. Captain on 4 June 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross in August 1917, and the Victoria Cross for his action on 1 December 1917, while serving with the 4th Battalion in the Cambrai battle.
The citation reads: "George Henry Tatham Paton, MC, Lieut (Acting Capt), Grenadier Guards. For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice. When a unit on his left was driven back. ' thus leaving his flank in the air and his company practically surrounded, he fearlessly exposed himself to readjust the line, walking up and down within fifty yards of the enemy under a withering fire. He personally removed several wounded men and was the last to leave the village. Later, he again readjusted the line, exposing himself regardless of all danger the whole time, and when the enemy four times counter-attacked he sprang each time upon the parapet, deliberately risking his life, and being eventually mortally wounded, in order to stimulate his command. After the enemy had broken through on his left, he again mounted the parapet, and with a few men-who were inspired by his great example-forced them once more to withdraw, thereby undoubtedly saving the left flank." He was killed in action.
The following are extracts from a letter written at the time.From Colonel Sir Henrv Streatfield, a KCVO. Commanding the Grenadier Guards, and dated 7 December 1917:
"Amongst all who have laid down their lives upon the Field of Honour, there is no one I regret the loss of more than your son.
He was a born soldier and leader of men, beloved by his brother officers and esteemed and respected by his men, and his loss to the regiment is a great one.
We, his old comrades, will long remember him with affection.
