On the search for Michael Patterson

We have had a request to find the family of Michael Patterson the the rightful owner of this medal found about 1988 in Annacotty:

About 25 years ago as a 10 year old I found a WW1 medal under water in the salmon weir, river, annacotty. I just saw it shining under water and reached in. I’m trying to track down its rightful owners could you post a picture of it on your site. It belonged to a gunner M Patterson. Seeing as I found it in limerick I hoped it was owned by a limerick man. I know that it is not valuable as there are so many of them in existence but might mean something to one of his descendants.

What we know about the medal owner Michael Patterson:

• It belonged to Michael Patterson 284981 of the Royal Garrison Artillery.
• He was a Gunner.
• He would have been awarded this medal for action in WW1.
• He was born in Ahane, Limerick around November 1882.
• His parents were James and Elizabeth, brothers were Joseph, John, James, Francis.
• He enlisted in at the Citadel, Limerick aged 18 and no months on 26 November 1900,
• His pre war number was 6206.
• He was a a labourer when he enlisted in 1900.
  
• In 1900 he was 5ft 7 1/4 inches, 133 lbs, Complexion fresh, Eyes Grey, Hair brown and the small toes on each foot was overlapping.
• He was listed in the 1901 Census in Jersey and aged 18, with his regiment.
  
• In 1901, his father James  Patterson worked as a Butler in 1901 in Rich Hill, in the Ahane Area, Co. Limerick.
• Michael served at home, in Halifax and Gibraltar before WW1
• His pre war service ended in 1908.
  
• In 1911, he lived with his mother Elizabeth and brother Frank at 3 Raheen, Ballyvarra district, Co. Limerick (near Annacotty).
• He enlisted for service in the First World War on 7 December 1916
• He served overseas during WW1
• He was discharged on 2 May 1919 due to sickness under Para 392(xvi) – No longer physically fir for war service.
• He was also awarded the War Medal and the Victory Medal and also the Silver War Badge
• He died in 1943 in Limerick aged 59

I would like to thank the Limerick Branch Royal British Legion for their help in putting some of the pieces together.

If you have any other information to add or may know the Patterson family, please leave a comment below or email limerickslife@gmail.com lets get this medal home.