WATSON, George Williamson
| Service Number: | 2874 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 23 July 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kensington, Victoria, Australia, 26 September 1895 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Jeweller |
| Died: | Killed in action, France, 19 August 1916, aged 20 years |
| Cemetery: |
Rue-du-Bois Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix Plot I, Row G, Grave 19. SOON TO FAITHFUL WARRIORS COMETH REST |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 23 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2874, 23rd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2874, 23rd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2874, 23rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 19 Aug 1916: | Involvement Lieutenant, 58th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1916-08-19 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
George Williamson Watson was the son of William and Helen Watson, of Brighton Beach, Victoria. They both gave consent for him to enlist at only 19 years of age in July 1915.
His older brother, 11911 Sergeant John Russell Watson 5th Field Artillery Brigade later died of wounds on 5 June 1918, aged 24.
George transferred to the 58th Battalion just after he arrived in Egypt during February 1916. He was promoted to Second Lieutenant during March 1916. Somehow he survived the Battle of Fromelles in which the 58th Battalion suffered very heavy casualties. He was promoted to Lieutenant only three days before he was killed.
On 19 August 1916 his unit was involved in a raid on the German tranches near Fromelles. The German artillery put down a heavy bombardment on the trenches the 58th Battalion held, and George Watson and one other rank were listed as casualties
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