Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Grave: | Sainte-Marie Cemetery | Div.3.F.19. Le Havre | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Early Life :
Part of the West Lancashire List, researched by Geoff Cuthill.The son of William and Margaret Jane Watson (nee Wright), he was born at Blackburn on 6 May 1877, and baptised in the parish church of St James on 1 July of the same year. The family residence is given as 51 Bold Street, and his father is described as a ‘pawn broker’.
By the time of the 1891 census, John’s mother Margaret is shown as the head of the family, aged 39, born at Waverton on the outskirts of Chester, a Publican at 7 Princess Street, Chester.
John married Emma Jane (nee Dobbs), at Christ Church, Chester on 5 February 1905 and their first child Eldred William was born at Chester on 23 May 1907 and in the 1911 census they are recorded as residing at 7 Princess Street, Chester. John is a licensed victualler in his own account, assisted by his wife, and mother-in-law Ellen. They have two children at this time, both born in Chester, Eldred William, b 1908, and six week old John Malcolm.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 179th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery |
| Action : Natural Causes |
Natural causes is attributed those deaths due to causes that were not directly associated with the war. Included in this are wartime deaths resulting from, for example, theSpanish Influenza pandemic and its associated pneumonia problems and other attributions such as age and exhaustion. It also groups those who through Post Traumatic Stress committed suicide as a result of their experiences.
Detail :
John is recorded in the 1917 Return sheet as having died on active service, 12 February 1917. He was a Gunner, No.102765, in the 179th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who had been born in Blackburn, and enlisted at Preston. His army service sheet survives, which shows him attesting on 10 December 1915 at Fleetwood, while residing at 188 Dock Street, occupation given as a Hotel Manager age 38 years 7 month.
Arriving in France on 8 January 1917 from O.C. 2 Depot RGA, he was admitted to the 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Havre, 11 February 1917 with acute bronchitis, which was complicated by disease to the mitral valve, and died there the following day. He was laid to rest in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Graville-St. Honorine, in Division 3, Row F. Grave 19, on the ridge overlooking the town of Le Havre, France.
His death was reported in the local paper under the title of ’Fleetwood Soldier’s Death; Mrs Watson, of the Fleetwood Arms, (188 Dock Road) has received official intimation that her husband, Gunner John William Watson, R.G.A., has died of pneumonia in hospital in France. He was 39 years of age and enlisted on June 13th, going out to France on New Years Day.
Probate WATSON John William of the Fleetwood Arms Hotel Dock-street Fleetwood Lancashire gunner R.G.A. died 12 February 1917 at the 7th Canadian Stationary Hospital France Probate London 21 March to Emma Jane Watson widow. Effects £60.
After the war, Emma is recorded by the C.W.G.C. as residing at Roadside, Christleton, Chester.
John is known to be on at least two memorials in Chester. Inside the Town Hall he is commemorated as Gnr John Watson, RGA, and in his parish church, St Peter’s, Chester Cross, as John William Watson.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Clarence No. 2386 E.C. | Cheshire |
| Joined : | Hesketh No. 950 E.C. | West Lancashire |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
1st December 1910 | 2nd February 1911 | 2nd March 1911 |
John William Watson was initiated into CLARENCE LODGE No 2386 Chester, on 1 December 1910, age 33, a licensed victualer. He was passed to the second degree 2 February 1911, third degree 2 March 1911, his Grand Lodge certificate issued on 3 April 1911. John became a joining member of HESKETH LODGE No 950 in September 1915, described as being a Licensed Victualler at the Fleetwood Arm’s Hotel, Fleetwood.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley