The Fate of Second Lieutenant Patrick Anthony Clement Everitt
The 'Holy Boys' spell on the front line came to an end on 5th January. Under cover of darkness, they move back to the ligne de recueil (John Head's note - I believe this stands for Handover Line) where they spent the remainder of the night in billets at Monneren. The Battalion's Carrier Platoon, however, commanded by Lieutenant Everitt, remained at the front to form part of the Brigade's 'patrol team'.
During daylight on Sunday, 7th January, Everitt led a patrol over the crest of a hill which brought them within sight of a German position. Determined to get ever closer to this enemy defensive position, Everitt hurried on, opening a considerable gap between himself and his men. Suddenly, German machine-guns opened fire, sweeping across the whole area and pinning the patrol to the ground. Everitt was hit, but because he was so far ahead and the German fire so intense, nobody was able to reach him.
After dark, patrols (John Head's note: event recorded in O'Callaghan's diary note of January 6th 1940 ) were sent out to search for him but returned without success. Enemy wireless broadcasts subsequently revealed the young Lieutenant's fate. Gravely injured, he had been taken to a German hospital where he died from his wounds two days later. The Germans buried him with full military honours. Son of Sir Clement and Lady Everitt, he was the first officer of the BEF to be killed in action.
The 'Holy Boys' spell on the front line came to an end on 5th January. Under cover of darkness, they move back to the ligne de recueil (John Head's note - I believe this stands for Handover Line) where they spent the remainder of the night in billets at Monneren. The Battalion's Carrier Platoon, however, commanded by Lieutenant Everitt, remained at the front to form part of the Brigade's 'patrol team'.
During daylight on Sunday, 7th January, Everitt led a patrol over the crest of a hill which brought them within sight of a German position. Determined to get ever closer to this enemy defensive position, Everitt hurried on, opening a considerable gap between himself and his men. Suddenly, German machine-guns opened fire, sweeping across the whole area and pinning the patrol to the ground. Everitt was hit, but because he was so far ahead and the German fire so intense, nobody was able to reach him.
After dark, patrols (John Head's note: event recorded in O'Callaghan's diary note of January 6th 1940 ) were sent out to search for him but returned without success. Enemy wireless broadcasts subsequently revealed the young Lieutenant's fate. Gravely injured, he had been taken to a German hospital where he died from his wounds two days later. The Germans buried him with full military honours. Son of Sir Clement and Lady Everitt, he was the first officer of the BEF to be killed in action.
The following photographic gallery is of Rheinberg Cemetery, the last resting place of 2nd Lt. Patrick Everitt. The photographs were taken by Robert John Everett (no relation) on one of his pilgrimages to the area. We are very grateful for permission to reproduce them on this site. Click on the photographs to enlarge them.
