WATSON, William Gilroy
| Service Numbers: | 1, 1A |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 January 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 50th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Dublin, Ireland, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | High School in Dublin, Ireland |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Noreuil, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France, 2 April 1917, age not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Noreuil Australian Cemetery, Picardie Row C, Grave 11 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1, 4th Light Horse Brigade HQ, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 13 Jun 1915: |
Involvement
AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1, 4th Light Horse Brigade HQ, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' |
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| 19 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1, 4th Light Horse Brigade HQ, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 25 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Regimental Sergeant Major, 1, 3rd Light Horse Brigade HQ, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 3 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1, 3rd Light Horse Brigade HQ | |
| 13 Mar 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1A, 10th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Apr 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1A, 50th Infantry Battalion | |
| 2 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1A, 50th Infantry Battalion, The Outpost Villages - German Withdrawal to Hindenburg Line |
Boer War Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement AIF WW1, Unspecified British Units |
|---|
World War 1 Service
| Date unknown: | Involvement 10th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières |
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Watson had previously served for 7 years with the 9th Lancers as part of the British Army. Consequently he had seen service in the South African, Boer War of 1899 - 1902.
Hence, when he enlisted on 18 January 1915 at Liverpool NSW, with the service number of 1, he was given the rank of Sergeant Major. He served with the 4th Light Horse Headquarters on Gallipoli and was later transferred to the 3rd Light Horse Headquarters. Watson saw out the remainder of the Gallipoli Campaign and when the AIF underwent its 'doubling' in Egypt he was transferred to the 10th Battalion and then later the 50th Battalion.
It was also whilst in Egypt, however, that Watson was reverted back to the rank of Private after been found drunk, breaking arrest and finally escaping arrest. He proceeded to England where he underwent further training and whilst doing so was sick with venereal disease for 9 days.
Watson was finally taken on strength by the 50th Battalion on 19 February 1917. In April, whilst the 50th Battalion attacked Noreuil, Watson was killed in action. He was buried at Noreuil Australian Cemetery.
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