Pte
John Watson
Informatie over geboorte
|
Geboortedatum: 31/12/1892 |
|
Geboorteplaats: Wakefield, Yorkshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
Algemene Informatie
|
Beroep: Mijnwagenbouwer |
Informatie legerdienst
|
Land: Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
|
Strijdmacht: British Expeditionary Force |
|
Rang: Private |
|
Service nummer: 50405 |
|
Dienstneming plaats: Wakefield, Yorkshire, Engeland, Verenigd Koninkrijk |
|
Eenheden: — North Staffordshire Regiment, 8th Bn. (Laatst gekende eenheid) |
Informatie over overlijden
|
Datum van overlijden: 04/10/1917 |
|
Plaats van overlijden: Bitter Wood Geluveld, België |
|
Doodsoorzaak: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
|
Leeftijd: 24 |
Begraafplaats
|
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery Plot: VII Rij: C Graf: 12 |
Onderscheidingen en medailles 2
|
British War Medal Medaille |
|
Victory Medal Medaille |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Geboorteplaats | ||
| #2 | Dienstneming plaats | ||
| #3 | Plaats van overlijden (bij benadering) |
Mijn verhaal
John Watson was born on New Year's Eve 1892. According to the 1911 census, John worked as Colliery Wagon Builder in Wakefield, Yorkshire. His father William and brother Joe worked in the same coal mine. John was an assistant scoutmaster with the 1st Wakefield (City) troop. During the war he enlisted voluntarily and by the time of the Battle of Passchendaele John served in the North Staffordshire Regiment, 8th Battalion, part of the 57th Brigade of the 19th (Western) Division.
On the 1st of October 1917 the Division held frontline positions in Bitter Wood, between Shrewsbury Forest and the Menin Road. The Bassevillebeek stream formed the boundary between the 8th North Staffordshires’ and the 37th Division on their left.
During the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917 the 19th (Western) Division covered the attack of the 37th Division, which advanced directly south of the Menin Road towards the village of Geluveld. When the attack on the left developed, John’s Battalion was heavily shelled by the German artillery. “A” Company in support took the full brunt of the barrage.
The battered Battalion was relieved under the cover of darkness. When the 8th North Staffordshires’ arrived at their camp, they counted 57 casualties during their tour in the frontline at Bitter Wood.
John Watson, 24, was killed in action on 4 October 1917 when his Battalion held the line at Bitter Wood. He left behind a wife and a young daughter. John was buried in Bitter Wood. His remains were interred in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery after the war.
On the 1st of October 1917 the Division held frontline positions in Bitter Wood, between Shrewsbury Forest and the Menin Road. The Bassevillebeek stream formed the boundary between the 8th North Staffordshires’ and the 37th Division on their left.
During the Battle of Broodseinde on 4 October 1917 the 19th (Western) Division covered the attack of the 37th Division, which advanced directly south of the Menin Road towards the village of Geluveld. When the attack on the left developed, John’s Battalion was heavily shelled by the German artillery. “A” Company in support took the full brunt of the barrage.
The battered Battalion was relieved under the cover of darkness. When the 8th North Staffordshires’ arrived at their camp, they counted 57 casualties during their tour in the frontline at Bitter Wood.
John Watson, 24, was killed in action on 4 October 1917 when his Battalion held the line at Bitter Wood. He left behind a wife and a young daughter. John was buried in Bitter Wood. His remains were interred in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery after the war.
Bronnen 6
|
"Passchendaele Day-by-Day Account", McCarthy C.,Uniform, 2018, page 107 Gebruikte bronnen |
|
"The Nineteenth division 1914 - 1918", Wyrall E., The Naval & Military Press, s.d., page 118 - 119 Gebruikte bronnen |
|
Ancestry https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1543&h=550066&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=RqK1&_phstart=successSource Verdere verwijzing |
|
CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/99890/watson,-/ Gebruikte bronnen |
|
The long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Gebruikte bronnen |
|
War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/view-diary/trenches/2085-1977/606840 Verdere verwijzing |