Henry Paterson's WWI Medal Index Card
Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk
TL;DR
- Paterson's Service Record: The page details the military service record of Henry Gordon Campbell Paterson from The National Archives UK.
- Rank and Number: He served as Mechanist Serjeant Major M2/153394 in the British Army's Army Service Corps during World War I.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855)
- Medal Index Card: It is his WO 372 medal index card, recording First World War service medals issued by the Army Medal Office.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855)
The story at a glance
The URL points to a specific record in The National Archives UK's Discovery catalogue for Henry Gordon Campbell Paterson's First World War service. He served in the Army Service Corps as a Mechanist Serjeant Major with service number M2/153394. This record is referenced in the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War project as the source for his basic service details.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855) No publication date is available; it is a historical archive entry.
Key points
- Record reference: D6340652, part of WO 372 series on British Army medal index cards 1914-1920.
- Name: Henry Gordon Campbell Paterson (initials HGC).
- Gender: Male.
- Unit: Army Service Corps (ASC), a non-combat logistical branch handling transport and supplies.
- Rank: Mechanist Serjeant Major, a senior warrant officer role focused on mechanical transport maintenance.
- Service number: M2/153394, where M2/ prefix indicates Mechanical Transport branch of ASC.
- Source context: Linked from IWM's community project on WWI lives; card created by Army Medal Office to track Victory and British War medals.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855)[[2]](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-medal-index-cards-1914-1920)
Details and context
The page is in The National Archives UK's online catalogue, which describes over 5 million WO 372 medal index cards compiled at war's end. These cards list standard campaign medals (British War Medal, Victory Medal) for most servicemen, plus entry dates to theaters, remarks, and discharge info if noted.
Direct access returned no content (status 202, accepted but processing), so details come from cross-referenced reputable sources like IWM and National Archives guides. No biographical timeline, family, death, or medal specifics beyond standard entitlements are visible or reliably reported.
ASC mechanists were vital for maintaining lorries and repair workshops, supporting front-line supply in France, Salonika, or other theaters, though no theater or enlistment date for Paterson is confirmed here.
FAQ
Q: What is reference D6340652?
A: It is the catalogue entry for Henry Gordon Campbell Paterson's medal index card in WO 372 at The National Archives UK. The card records his WWI service for medal entitlement purposes. It is cited as the source in IWM's Lives project.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855)
Q: What rank did Henry Gordon Campbell Paterson hold?
A: He was Mechanist Serjeant Major in the Army Service Corps. This warrant officer rank involved overseeing mechanical transport repairs. His service number was M2/153394.[[1]](https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5213855)
Q: What does the Army Service Corps do?
A: The ASC provided logistics, transport, supplies, and mechanical support during WWI. M2/ numbers specifically denote the Mechanical Transport section. Most ASC personnel qualified for standard war medals.
Q: How were these medal cards created?
A: The Army Medal Office produced WO 372 cards near war's end from medal rolls. They tracked medals issued, with over 5 million for British Army personnel. Digital images may require archive visit or payment.[[2]](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/british-army-medal-index-cards-1914-1920)
Why it matters
These records preserve evidence of individual contributions to Britain's WWI effort, especially for support roles like logistics that enabled combat operations. For family historians or researchers, it offers a starting point to trace full service files, medals, or pension records via service number. Watch for digitized releases or related WO 363/364 pension files at The National Archives, though availability varies.