As long as Pat stayed in the army

Some here asked the origin of the saying "as long as Pat stayed in the army". I asked my mother who died last year at 90 (Eloise Copeland McCoy) if she knew Pat. She said that she didn't know him or who he was. I asked how long did Pat stay in the Army. She said that the clock was striking one when Pat got there, and it was still striking when he left!