Name
(Clement) Spencer Watson
28/08/1895
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/05/1917
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
201013
London Regiment *1
1st (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ACHIET-LE-GRAND COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Plot I, Row H, Grave 12.
France
Headstone Inscription
HE SAVED OTHERS HIMSELF HE COULD NOT SAVE
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, St Matthew’s Church Memorial, Oxhey, Congregational Church Memorial, Bushey, Bushey Baptist Chapel Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Clement Spencer Watson, born on 28th September 1895, in Winslow, Bucks, the eldest of two sons of Clement Watson and Mary Ann Watson, (nee Spencer).
His parents married 1894 in the Portsea, Hants, district. Clement died 1941 in Watford aged 69, and was buried 10 April in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
1901 Census records Clement aged 5, living with his parents, and younger brother William (B 1899). In Binley, Foleshill, Warwickshire, were his father was employed as a Poultry Manager.
By 1907 the family were now living in Upper Paddock Road, Bushey/Oxhey, Herts, were his father was working as a Journalist, writing for the Poultry Press, in September of that year Clement started at Watford Grammar School, leaving in July 1912.
1911 Census records Clement aged 15, at school, living with his parents and brother William, at 77, Upper Paddock Road Bushey/Oxhey, Herts. His father was still employed as a Journalist.
Wartime Service
When war was declared, Clement enlisted at Handel Street in Bloomsbury, London, in September 1914, using his middle name “Spencer”, joining the 1st City of London Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), with the service number 3144.
Later he was posted to the 2nd/3rd Battalion, London Regiment, with the service number 201013.
Spencer served in Malta, Egypt, Gallipoli and on the Western Front, he died on 18th May 1917, of wounds received in action, at the age of 21 and is buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 30 August 1915.
Additional Information
*1 London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
"WATSON, CLEMENT SPENCER. School period: September, 1907, to July, 1912. Sergeant, Royal Fusiliers (London Regiment). Enlisted September, 1914. Malta, Gallipoli, and France. Died of wounds, 18th May, 1917.“
Unfortunately, Clement’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an In Memoriam for Clement in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 17 May 1919. His brother William died 26 August 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour. The value of his effects were £7-1s-10d, Pay Owing and £15-10s-0d, War Gratuity, which went to his brother William. His mother was awarded a Dependents Pension of 12/- a week for the loss of both her son's Clement and William.
After his death he was recorded as the son of Clement and Mary Watson, of 77, Upper Paddock Rd., Oxhey, Watford. Additional information’ provided with kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk), Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild
