213912 Cpt. Alexander Leonard Paterson MC.British Army 1st Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Alec Paterson became a personal friend when we worked together during the 1970's and. He rarely spoke about his time during the war. Although he had one leg some 2 or 3 inches shorter than the other he never said how it happened. I know he lived in Paris with his wife between the two wars and moved back to England when the German army was advancing on Paris.
He was born in Old Meldrum in the Scottish Highlands and was a regular visitor to Ballater. He always stayed in the same B & B. He took me and my wife for a week's visit. We attended the games at Braemar.
The only item he kept from his army career was his commendation to the King for outstanding gallantry. He was already the holder of the Military Cross at that time.
He had no living relatives and gave me his commendation which I kept for many years until I took it to the Regimental museum at Stirling. I was advised it was filed along with other similar commendations.
I have not been able to trace his military record so I do not know what rank he was when he left the army but was known to me and his other friends as The Colonel. This may just have been a nickname.
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