Alexander Hanna Patterson was the second oldest son of William James and Margaret Patterson. He was born on 14th May 1881. He was one of ten children. The family lived in Moyheeland, Draperstown. His father was a farmer. Alexander emigrated to Canada. Prior to enlisting, Alexander worked as a teamster. He had spent two and a half years in the Canadian Militia. Acting Sergeant Alexander Hanna Patterson was serving with the 1st Battalion of the Canadian Infantry when he was killed in action in trenches east of Festubert in France on 23rd May 1915.
The Vimy Memorial overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted.
