He was married to Sarah Maria Wilson and was the father of Thomas William Patey, who also served (see separate entry on the database).
First enlisted in the army in 1889 aged 18 years in the Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment. Served in Africa in 1900 in the East Yorkshire Regiment. Discharge in 1901. re-enlisted in 1914 in Barnard Castle aged 43. Discharged in 1918. It is thought that he never saw active service.