Name
Christopher Arthur Waterman
1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/03/1918
23
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
9903
South Lancashire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 48 and 49.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
All Saints' Church Memorial(s), Hockerill, Bishop's Stortford Town Memorial
Pre War
Christopher Arthur Waterman was born in 1895 in Bishop's Stortford to Christopher Arthur Waterman, a slaughter man, and Eliza (nee Deadman).
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Herbert (born 1890), Gertrude (born 1892), Christopher, Edgar (born 1899) and Sidney (born 1901) were living at New Path, Bishop's Stortford and his father was working as a Bill Poster. Also listed was William Deadman (born 1886), working as an errand boy and described as son in law on 1891 Census and stepson (but believed to be eldest son of the family).
By 1911 they had moved to 35 Elm Grove, Bishop's Stortford and Christopher was working as a general labourer and the family was parents, Herbert (labourer), Gertrude (domestic servant), Christopher (labourer), Edgar, Sidney, Beatrice (born 1905 and Doris (born 1907).
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for Christopher who enlisted in as Private 9903 in the Prince of Wales Volunteers (South Lancashire) Regiment. His serial number suggests this was between Jun 1912 (9803 issued) and 1 Jan 1913 (9955 issued) and gives time for his training to take place before he left with 2nd Battalion for France on 14 Aug 1914.
The 2nd South Lancs were part of 3 Division and took part in the Retreat from Mons and the subsequent battles until in Oct 1915 they were transferred to 25 Division and took part in the Battles of the Somme 1916. In 1917 the Division was at Messines and at Pilkem (Passchendaele). By early 1918 the 2nd Lancs were in the area of Bapaume on the Somme when the German Army launched its March Offensive using overwhelming artillery firepower, gas and infiltration tactics, penetrated the thinly held British positions on the Somme. Christopher was killed in this action (Battle of St Quentin 21-23 Mar 1918), his death was presumed to be on 22 Mar 1918. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial on the Somme.
Additional Information
His father Christopher received a War Gratuity of £22 and pay owing of £8 10s 5d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
