Notes
The Bradford Grammar School website (see References) states: 'There are significant gaps in our knowledge of the movements of Oscar’s father Ellef Christopher Paus. He was born in Norway in 1843; twenty years later he lived in Lubeck, in North Germany; and then in
1870 he married Ellen Lord in Manchester. By 1891 they lived on Heaton Grove in Bradford and the couple had four sons and one daughter. He was a partner in the company of Blydt, Paus & Pace, of Manchester and Bradford, which shipped cotton and woollen textiles to the Continent. Oscar was their fourth child and third son, born early in 1880. He went to Bradford Grammar School in 1890 and left at the start of 1897. He was on the Modern side of the School, and the subjects he studied, which included Book-keeping, Shorthand, French and German were intended to prepare him for a business career. He went to work for his father’s company, initially as a clerk, and later as a cotton buyer for the company’s Manchester branch. That he considered Bradford his home is indicated by the fact that during the South African War he enlisted in the 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment, although he did not see active service.
He was in his mid-thirties when the First World War broke out, and although he was single he did not join the rush to join the colours. It was only in December 1915, when the government was moving towards compulsory service, that he attested his willingness to serve. He was called up at the end of March 1916, when he was posted to the 30th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, a training unit raised in Essex. He was promoted to Lance Corporal and was posted to France in July 1916. On the 15th he joined the 9th Battalion fighting on the Somme, and he was wounded in the right shoulder on 8th August during the vicious fighting for Mouquet Farm. Oscar’s first spell in France lasted thirty-two days. His wound cannot have been serious as he was soon posted to the 5/Royal Fusiliers. However, his second attempt to apply for a commission succeeded and he was ordered to join No.13 Officer Training Battalion at Newmarket on 1st December. He desired to be posted to the Bradford Territorials, the 6th, however after receiving his commission on 28th March 1917, he was posted to the 1st Bradford Pals.
Second Lieutenant Paus had been with ‘C’ Company 16/West Yorkshire for two months when they went up to the trenches at Arleux, near Arras, on 21st July. At 1 a.m. on 29th July a German shell fell by the entrance to the Company Head Quarters dugout, wounding two officers and three other ranks. Paus was taken to No.42 Casualty Clearing Station where
he died of his wounds later that day. He was buried near Aubigny. The Adjutant of the Battalion wrote to his father: ‘He was very popular with both officers and men, and proved himself to be a keen, energetic and very capable officer.’ The Chaplain wrote of his good
nature and kindly disposition.
Paus‘s name is on the War Memorial of St. Barnabas’ Church, Heaton.'