| William Patton was the son of Thomas and Ellen Jane Patton (nee McIlwrath)
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| Ellen’s maiden name varies throughout and is sometimes Wrath as well as the various spelling of McIlwrath. For this reason it has been difficult to track down evidence of a marriage or to define how many children were in the family.
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| William Patton was born on 15th November 1889, probably in the Craigall area, north west of Kilrea or in Upperlands.
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| Speculated family: Thomas Patton, Ellen Jane Patton, Robert Patton (born 7th January 1877), Elizabeth Patton (born 7th March 1878), Martha Patton (born 21st September 1879), Thomas Patton (born 24th March 1881), Letitia Patton (born 8th February 1883), James Patton (born 20th August 1884), Mary Patton (born 28th April 1886), Elizabeth Patton (born 8th July 1888), William Patton (born 15th November 1889), Samuel Patton (born 24th November 1893).
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| The 1901 census lists William as age 10 living with the family at house 2 in Craigall, Bovagh, County Londonderry. His father was a farm labourer.
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| His mother, Ellen Jane Patton, died on 23rd March 1903 in the district of Coleraine, aged 48. William was 13 years old.
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| The 1911 census does not list William as living with the family at house 1 in Craigall, Bovagh, Kilrea.
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| William was a member of Boveedy L.O.L. No. 175.
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| William Patton enlisted in Cookstown.
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| Private William Patton was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action at Gulleghem, Belgium during the Battle of Lys on 15th October 1918.
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| From the Northern Constitution dated 30th November 1918:
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| Mr Thomas Patton, Craigall, Moneydig, has received letters from Lieutenant Colonel Knox and Captain J W Carlton, C.F., regarding the death of his son Private William Patton, Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action in France on 15th October 1918. Colonel Knox testifies to the deceased’s gallant conduct and excellent character as a soldier and says he was always in the forefront where there was fighting. Captain Carlton says Private Patton died bravely for a noble cause.
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| Private William Patton has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
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| William’s younger brother Samuel Patton served in the war with the Australian contingent. He was badly injured in a gas attack but survived the war.
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| Private William Patton is also commemorated on Kilrea War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour in Boveedy Orange Hall.
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| It is believed William also worked in Newmills for a time. There is a Private William Patton on the Newmills L.O.L. 183 Dungannon Roll of Honour on the WW1 Plaque in Newmills Parish Church Of Ireland.
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| Private Patton is listed in the Kilrea book (page 88), the Garvagh book (page 69) and the Cookstown book (page 303).
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