 Paterson akagadzwa kuva lieutenant wechipiri muPrince Alberts Somersetshire Light Infantry musi wa16 Kukadzi 1898, uye akaiswa neRegiments 2nd Battalion muSouth Africa panguva yeChipiri Boer War 1899-1902. Akakwidziridzwa kuva lieutenant musi wa7 Ndira 1900, panguva yekufambira mberi kunobvisa Ladysmith, kwaakatora chikamu muhondo dzeSpion Kop20-24 January 1900 uye Tugela Heights February 1900. Kubvira muna April 1900 kusvikira muna 1901 akashanda pachitoro chepasi. Pashure pokuguma kwehondo muna June 1902, Paterson akabva Cape Town mu SS Bavarian muna August, achidzokera kuSouthampton mwedzi wakatevera. 