WATTERSON, Randal
| Service Number: | 582 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 7 July 1915, An original of C Company |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 30th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Euroa, Victoria, Australia, 22 November 1892 |
| Home Town: | Wyalong, Bland, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Bank Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ration Farm Military Cemetery, la Chapelle-D'Armentieres Plot VI, Row K, Grave 35, Ration Farm Military Cemetery, La Chapelle-D'armentieres, Lille, Nord Pas de Calais, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Temora WW1 War Memorial, Wyalong Soldiers Memorial Hall |
World War 1 Service
| 7 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Corporal, 582, 30th Infantry Battalion, An original of C Company | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Nov 1915: | Involvement Corporal, 582, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Nov 1915: | Embarked Corporal, 582, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney | |
| 20 Jul 1916: | Involvement Sergeant, 582, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 582 awm_unit: 30th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1916-07-20 | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix) |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sergeant Randal Watterson, according to his Red Cross file, was seen to be hit and killed by rifle or machine gun fire by many witnesses on the evening of 19 July 1916. He was posted missing in action, 20 July 1916. At a Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 23 July 1917, he was pronounced as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'. Sometime after the war his remains were confirmed as buried in the Ration Farm Cemetery.
He was the son of Stephen and Martha Watterson, and husband of Florence Louise Watterson, of Florence, Gunning, New South Wales.
He had married Florence in Temora during August 1915, about a month after he enlisted. Florence thus became widowed before her first wedding anniversary. She had already lost her 21-year-old brother, 538 Bernard Ray Cartwright, who had drowned at sea near Mudros during the sinking of the Southland on 2 September 1915.
“Immediately on receipt of word from the Defence Department to the effect that her husband (Sergt. Randall Watterson.) was missing Mrs. Watterson (nee Miss Cartwright) cabled to the Major of her husband's Company seeking further particulars. Yesterday a reply was received from the Officer in question stating his fears that Sergt. Watterson had been killed. Wide spread sympathy is felt for the young wife and her parents in their grief and the uncertainty which surrounds the young soldier's loss.” - Temora Star.
Randal’s younger brother, 24 Cpl. Jack Wilson Watterson 3rd Battalion AIF, died of wounds from the Bullecourt battle on 7 May 1917, aged 22.
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