Born: 30 July, 1912, in Hamilton.
Died: 10 July, 2008, in Berkshire, aged 95. DR DAVID Paton was a medical officer in one of the most daring raids of the Second World War. The audacious attack on St Nazaire in March 1942 – co
de-named Operation Chariot – was a desperate attempt by the Royal Navy to destroy the vast docks in Normandy. They were of huge strategic importance to the Germans as they were the only docks on the Atlantic seaboard where the pocket battle ship Tirpitz – the pride of Hitler's navy – could dock and be refitted. The harrowing expedition did not go entirely as planned but the bravery of those involved was beyond question. Paton attended to the wounded throughout the operation, especially on all three of the ships on the return journey. When asked on which ship he had returned Paton replied: "All of them."
The plan was fraught with danger as the docks were four miles up the Loire. HMS Campbeltown, a converted US carrier, was filled with explosives and the intention was to ram the boat into the defences. Paton's orders were then to set up a medical centre on land in a German gun turret. Two of the Campbeltown's funnels had been removed to make it easier to get through the German defences. Paton was aboard a supply vessel and all went according to plan until the Campbeltown was a mile short of its target. Paton wrote later: "All hell broke loose. Searchlights by the dozen illuminated us from both sides and we became shooting targets for a huge variety of guns." Paton started treating the wounded under this severe barrage of fire. His ship was unable to land and although the Campbeltown eventually exploded its cargo, the firing continued unabated.
Of the 622 men who took part in the raid, 168 were killed and 214 were taken prisoner. Many medals (including five VCs) were awarded.
Despite the heavy casualties suffered by the raiders, Operation Chariot was judged to have been a success: the dock was severely damaged and remained unusable until 1947.
On the return journey Paton was seen jumping from one motor torpedo boat to the other, attending to the seriously wounded. Next morning on parade in Falmouth, "a crisply starched and very officious Voluntary Aid Detachment girl took me aside and complained: 'Doctor, you haven't shaved'."
David Paton was the son of a watchmaker and a schoolmistress and attended Hamilton Academy before reading medicine at Glasgow University, where he joined the Officer Training Corps. After qualifying, he worked at the Western Royal Infirmary and on the outbreak of war joined the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served at the War Office before being appointed medical officer to Catterick camp. Then, at Christmas 1941, he was transferred to Orkney, and then Ayr, where he was seconded to, and trained with, the Commandos.
Apart from the St Nazaire raid, Paton saw service with the commandos of the 1st Special Service Brigade at the D-Day landings on Sword Beach. He was demobbed with the rank of lieutenant-colonel.
Paton worked as a GP in Berkshire after the war and was president of the Windsor Medical Society and the local Royal British Legion. He retired in 1972 but continued to act as a police surgeon. His wife, Phyllis, whom he married in 1941, predeceased him and he is survived by their two sons and two daughters.
The full article contains 584 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
