Name
Walter Edward Watson
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/09/1917
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
R/200255
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
TYNE COT MEMORIAL
Panel 145 to 147.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Wheathampstead memorials
Pre War
Walter Edward was born in Wheathampstead (baptised 25 Apr 1886) to Walter Samuel Watson, a tinman (metalworker), and Hannah (nee Gray). On the 1891 Census the family of Parents, Cecil John Henry (born 1885), Walter, and Fanny Ellen (born 1888) were living at Westbury Road, Poplar, London.
On the 1901 Census Edward (Walter) is listed as a bank messenger and was living with his mother, listed as Anna, Harry (Cecil John,(a cardboard Box maker), Nellie (Fanny Ellen), Charles (Charles Albert , born 1892) and living at Vincent Building, Hoxton. Also listed was a lodger Daniel Pearce, a stickman,(silversmith).
On the 1911 Census Walter was listed as a Billiard marker and was living with his mother, Cecil John, Fanny (a blouse machinist) and Charles Albert born 1892, a cash clerk) at Street Hoxton. Also listed was a lodger Daniel Pearce, a silversmith.
Walter married Maud Elizabeth Clark on 29 Aug 1915. In Hoxton, London. A daughter, Nellie Maud was born on 28 Jul 1916.
Wartime Service
No Service record could be found for Walter. However from his Service number 6047 it is known he enlisted as a Territorial Force Soldier (Private) sometime around the end of Mar 1916 in 3/8th Battalion, London Regiment. This was a Training/Reserve Unit and was renamed 8th (Reserve) Battalion in Apr 1916. Walter was transferred to 10th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade. In the 1917 renumbering of Territorial Units he gained the Service Number of 200255. (Most records found use prefix B/ (Rifle Brigade) to his service number but R/ was also found).
10th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade were a part of 20 (Light) Division and in 1917 were positioned in the Ypres Sector taking part in 3rd Ypres (Passchendaele), in particular the Battle of Langemarck (16 - 18 Aug) and the Battle of Menin Road (20 – 25 Sep). It was in this last action that Walter was reported Missing believed killed. His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 10s and arrears of £4 17s 2d was paid to his widow Maud.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
