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Rob Paterson

Looking beneath the surface

Interests: my dogs, history and science, blogging, my children, science fiction and fantasy

Recent Activity

Order your copy of Noblesse Oblige here

Loading... “Noblesse Oblige” is an intimate history of the families of Montreal’s once famous community of wealth and privilege, the "Square Mile". Using their own words and images, the book seeks to answer the question of why they lost their... Continue reading

Posted Sep 20, 2018 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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Mass Shootings - Are Men Bad - Part IV Is Patriarchy Inevitable or created by a culture

There is no doubt that patriarchy is realk and that it is evil. It hurts all women and most men - for it concentrates power in a few male hands. But is patriarchy the natural state of male culture or... Continue reading

Posted Jan 1, 2018 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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Absolutely - In Athens the galleys were crewed by free men - it was an obligation of citizenship. When the Athenian ran short of crew in Syracuse, they freed slaves to join them on the benches. Cant mix a free culture with slaves

Commented Jan 8, 2016 on Culture is Everything at Global Guerrillas

"Noblesse Oblige" - A History of the Families of Montreal's Golden Mile in World War 1 - My Notes/Posts

This is the Menin Gate at Ypres where the names of those whose bodies were never identified at the Salient in World War 1 are recorded. In 2014, I decided to write an ongoing history of the Great War, as... Continue reading

Posted Jun 9, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Total War Begins - Post Lusitania and 2nd Ypres

In October 1914, over 1,000 men in the new PPCLI have their picture taken by their ship. By May 15, barely 150 are still left in the field. Of the 18,000 men in the Canadian First Division who arrive in... Continue reading

Posted Jun 9, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Tragedy and Response - Loss, Anger and Honour - Hammie Gault

So how did Hammie Gault and his wife Marguerite Stephens react to the events of April and May 1915? They enacted a tragedy. Think of Macbeth. Who starts the chain of events and why? It is Lady Macbeth. It is... Continue reading

Posted Jun 4, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Tragedy and Response - Guilt and Loss - George Slingsby

George Slingsby was one of our heroes during the sinking of the Lusitania - more here and here. What happened to him during and after the war? He became one of the displaced. Even before the May final crossing of... Continue reading

Posted Jun 3, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Tragedy and Response - Devotion - Henry Yates and Martha Allan

This is how the Number 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill) looked when it arrived in France in June 1915. 2nd in command was Henry Yates. Head of Medicine was John McCrae. In this post we will explore the particular devotion... Continue reading

Posted May 28, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Tragedy and Response - Honour - Hugh Allan

How did Hugh Allan react to the loss of his sisters and to the losses at the front? On May the 18th, Gwen's body is found. She is labelled Body 218. A member of the family has to see it... Continue reading

Posted May 24, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1- Tragedy and Response - Love - "Uncle" Montagu Allan

How did the men in our story react to the losses of Ypres and the Lusitania? How the women reacted is here. It is clear to me, that most of the main female characters in our story talked with each... Continue reading

Posted May 21, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1- Tragedy and Response - Ypres & the Lusitania

All the excitement of the war for the Canadians from Montreal had died in April and in May of 1915 . So many of the young men had been killed or wounded at Ypres and the sinking of the Lusitania... Continue reading

Posted May 15, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1- The Last Voyage of the Lusitania - A personal story

On May 7th 1915, the Lusitania sunk in 18 minutes. Over 1,000 people died. 4 of the dead were members of my family. Many more of my family and their friends and their staff were involved. This is their personal... Continue reading

Posted May 11, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Test - The Canadians and the 2nd Battle of Ypres

In April and in May of 1915, the Canadians of the First Division, and the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry pass the test of courage and ability as they save the day during the 2nd Battle of Ypres. By early... Continue reading

Posted May 11, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The "Pats" - Death of the "Originals" and Birth of a Legend

The Battle of Frezenberg, May 8th 1915, is the most important battle in the history of the regiment. It will set the culture and it will also force a transformation. The best record of the battle is to be found... Continue reading

Posted May 9, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Lusitania Part 5 - The Aftermath

All the immediate newspaper accounts have their flaws. This is certainly Hugh, Aunt Marguerite Allan's son. But the lady with him is not a survivor. Where would she get a mourning outfit? It is, I think, his older sister Martha.... Continue reading

Posted May 7, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Lusitania Part 4 - The Sinking

So we come to the turning point in the lives of my large extended family in Montreal. From now on, all the adventure of World War 1 has gone and only duty and resilience is left. In Part 1, Part... Continue reading

Posted May 6, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Henry Yates - Sailing into history

It's May 6th. The Metagama is captured here sailing from Montreal. On board is the Number 3 Canadian General Hospital - The McGill Hospital. 2nd in command is Uncle Montagu's best friend, Henry Brydges Yates. By the dockside with Uncle... Continue reading

Posted May 5, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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Trum Warren and the German Surrender May 4, 1945

One of our heroes in the World War 1 series that I am posting, is Trumbull Trum Warren. Here is the key post. His son, also called Trum, was General Montgomery's chief personal aide. On May 4th, Trum Jnr, escorted... Continue reading

Posted May 5, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Ypres Update May 4- 8 - The PPCLI Move

This is the situation on May 4th, 100 years ago today. With the loss of all the territory on the north of the Salient, the British had to withdraw so that they could present a more rounded front. On May... Continue reading

Posted May 4, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Price of Devotion Part 1 - PPCLI May 1915

On May 5th, the commander of the PPCLI, Lt Col Buller, was wounded. Fortunately Hammie Gault, who had been wounded on February 28th, arrived back on that day with 47 replacements. Hammie took command just 3 days before the Pats... Continue reading

Posted May 4, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - John McCrae - The Motives behind In Flanders Fields

This is Frank Hurley's famous image of a dressing station. There is more than a dressing station here. Hurley, a great artist, added the sky effect deliberately. It is surely a "sacrament"? So too, on May 3rd 1915, when, crushed... Continue reading

Posted May 3, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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Hi Bill Thanks - I don't know why the C was commandeered. Matthew was one of an unlucky group. I hear that Mike Poirier has invited you to join the Relatives Group on FB - he may well have more answers for you - he is THE expert on the people. Eric will be in Cobh too and you can speak to him

Commented May 1, 2015 on World War 1 - Lusitania Part 3 - Setting Sail at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - Lusitania Part 3 - Setting Sail

So it's May 1, 1915 and the great day has arrived. At noon on May 1, 2 hours late, she was pulled out of her berth on Pier 54. My Aunt Marguerite, Lady Allan and her party are on board.... Continue reading

Posted Apr 29, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Lusitania Part 1 - Frances Stephens and "Baby" John

This is the house of my great great Aunt, Frances Stephens. It is on Dorchester Street in Montreal where Place Ville Marie is now. She was, in 1915, a widow and the second wife and sister of the first wife... Continue reading

Posted Apr 27, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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World War 1 - The Lusitania Part 2 - The Trip from Montreal to New York

The Lusitania sails on May 1st 1915. On April 28th, or earlier, Aunt Marguerite Lady Allan and her two daughters must have set out from Montreal. It makes sense to me for them to arrive in New York at least... Continue reading

Posted Apr 27, 2015 at Robert Paterson's Weblog

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