Isabella Paterson

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Munitions Worker

Birthplace Moray Birnie Scotland Date of Birth: August 10, 1898 Date of Death: July 2, 1917

Biography

Email from great niece, Oct 2021: ‘I saw your appeal on Scotland’s People and thought I should tell you about my great-aunt, Isabella Paterson, who worked in the muntions factory. She was born in Birnie, Moray 10 Aug 1898 and died in the Solway Firth of Annan 2 Jul 1917. She and a friend had gone down to the water after a night shift, not realising how dangerous the currents are in the area. I can point you towards a newspaper report on the accident if you want, and am happy to provide any further information I have that may help. She’s buried in Forres with her parents- at least that’s what my aunt told me – but she is certainly on the gravestone, along with a brother who died in 1919 and one who died in 1920. My aunt also reported that her grandmother had lost 3 children to the war – I’m assuming Auntie Issie is one, Robert died of pneumonia and heart failure in 1919, aged 25, having served in the Seaforths, and I’m not sure if Donald is the 3rd as I can’t find any information about war service for him, and it seems unlikely as he was epileptic. I can’t find anything about their elder brother, Alexander, after 1901 so I suspect he may be the third.’