Name
Walter Ernest Mansell Watson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
17/09/1916
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
7584
London Regiment *1
1st/22nd (County of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 9 D 9 C 13 C and 12 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Rickmansworth UDC Memorial, St Mary’s Church Roll of Honour, Rickmansworth
Pre War
Walter Watson was born in 1878 in Harefield and his birth registered in Ruislip. His father, Edward Charles Watson, died at Hanover Square in 1881 and at the time of the 1881 census he was living at Oak Cottage Heronsgate with mother, Phoebe Watson in house of her great aunt, Sophia Abrook.
In 1891 he and his mother were living at 54 Morning Lane, Hackney where his mother was a newsagent and stationer. Phoebe Watson died later that year and Walter went to live with his uncle, Charles P. Mansell, and his family at 5 Colenso Road, Hackney where he was living at the time of the 1901 census, aged 22 and working as a watchmaker.
The 1908 Electoral Register shows him living at 11 Verulam Terrace, Uxbridge Road, as a lodger with Thomas Smith. In 1911 census he was single and a boarder at 4 Cambridge Cottages, Uxbridge Road, working as a watchmaker. He was a member of the Chorleywood Lodge of the Freemasons in 1913.
Probate records show he that he left £2754 12s 3d to Ernest James Franklin, builder, and to Horace Arthur Mansell, a private in the army.
Wartime Service
Walter Watson enlisted at London, formerly Private 5626 3/12th London Regiment.
The Thiepval Memorial is a memorial to the servicemen who died in the Battles of the Somme between 1915 and 1918 and who have no known grave. Over 90% of these soldiers died in the First Battle of the Somme between 1 July and 18 November 1916.
Additional Information
His soldier’s effects of £4 15s 4d to was left to the Executors of his will, Ernest J Franklin and Horace A Mansell. His War gratuity of £3 was left to Horace A. Mansell (probably his cousin).
*1 Believed more correctly, (County of London)
Bn. London Regiment (The Queens's).
Acknowledgments
Pat Hamilton
Malcolm Lennox
