Career
He was the Commodore Commanding His Majesty"s Australian Squadron between 2 September 1939 and 1 November 1939. He participated in the naval battle that sunk the German battleship Bismarck. Born on 20 November 1893 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the son of William Robert Patterson and Elizabeth Fleming.
He joined the Royal Navy as a cadet on 15 September 1906 and specialised in gunnery.
He was appointed the Commodore Commanding His Majesty"s Australian Squadron between 2 September 1939 and 1 November 1939. He was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 11 June 1946.
He was present at the surrender of the Japanese.