John Arthur WATKINS

John Arthur WATKINS Update Details

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WATKINS, John Arthur

Other Name:	WATKIN, John Arthur - True Name
Service Number:	1730
Enlisted:	20 July 1915, Oath taken 22 July 1915 at ALH Depot, Liverpool NSW
Last Rank:	Driver
Last Unit:	1st Light Horse Regiment
Born:	Booligal, New South Wales, 20 December 1892
Home Town:	Booligal, Hay, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Carrier
Died:	11 January 1969, aged 76 years, cause of death not yet discovered, place of death not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Hillston Cemetery, New South Wales
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

20 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Oath taken 22 July 1915 at ALH Depot, Liverpool NSW
23 Oct 1915:	Involvement Private, 1730, 1st Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '1' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: SS Hawkes Bay embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: ''
23 Oct 1915:	Embarked Private, 1730, 1st Light Horse Regiment, SS Hawkes Bay, Sydney
17 May 1918:	Transferred AIF WW1, Driver, 1st Light Horse Regiment
15 Mar 1919:	Embarked AIF WW1, Driver, 1730, 1st Light Horse Regiment, RTA per HT Euripides from Kantara, Egypt (Malaria)
8 Jul 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Driver, 1730, 1st Light Horse Regiment, 2MD Medically Unfit

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Biography contributed by Karen Standen

Driver John Arthur WATKINS

John preferred to be known by his middle name Arthur and his surname was actually Watkin – ie Arthur Watkin,¹ not Watkins as it is often recorded (including his WW1 Service Record). By the time of his death in 1969, he was known by most as Arthur John Watkin.²

Arthur was one of eleven children born to Edward “Ned” and Mary Watkin.³ His father was at one time, a coach driver in the NSW Western District primarily between Hay, Mossgiel and Ivanhoe. Both Arthur and his brother, Frederick George aka George Frederick Watkin #2753 (/explore/people/103025), gave their place of birth on enlistment as Booligal, a small settlement located between the first mentioned destinations. Arthur was sixteen years old when his father passed away.⁴

Arthur and George were among the local returned soldiers and nurses presented with gifts during the Booligal welcomed home dinner and dance held in November 1919. Unlike his brother, Arthur was not present and it was his mother who accepted the watch and chain on his behalf.⁵ A few weeks later, the boys secured a 15965 acre lease in the Western Districts⁶ however both pursued others endeavours during the 1920’s.⁷ Arthur continued his pre-war occupation, becoming a well-known Teamster based at Booligal, before going on to establish himself as a Grazier in the Mossgiel district just south of Ivanhoe.⁸ His property (station) was known as Killara.⁹ In 1924, Arthur married Hazel Gladys Cleaver and they are believed to have had at least seven children.¹⁰

Highly regarded in the Western District, Arthur Watkin was elected a Director in 1947 of the Pastures Protection Board for the District of Hillston,¹¹ a role he held for many years. This was followed in 1952, with his appointment as a Member of the Local Land Board, also for the Administrative District of Hillston.¹²

Proud of his army service, Arthur was a member of the RSSAILA Hillston Sub-Branch. He and Robert John “Bob” Peters #1717 (/explore/people/121503), were reported in local newspapers as travelling to Sydney in 1950 to attend a unit reunion and the Anzac Day commemorations.¹³ Legend has it that Arthur and Bob were best mates even before the war, with the pair reportedly travelling from Hillston to Cootamundra to enlist.¹⁴ Both sailed from Sydney in October 1915 aboard the HMAT SS Hawkes Bay as part of the 1st LHR 11th Reinforcements.

Arthur John Watkin died on the 11th January 1969 and was buried in the Hillston Cemetery. His headstone is adorned with the rising sun badge and acknowledges his 1st Light Horse service.¹⁵

Karen Standen 2021

Sources:
[1] NAA: B2455, WATKINS JOHN ARTHUR, p 11
[2] NSW Death Registration 17214/1969 Hillston
[3] NSW Birth Registrations Watkin 1880-1906 Hay and Hillston
[4] 1909 'Booligal.', The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954), 10 September, p. 1. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141087277
[5] 1919 'BOOLIGAL'S WELCOME.', The Riverine Grazier (Hay, NSW : 1873 - 1954), 11 November, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141024453
[6] 1919 'NOTIFICATION OF APPROVAL OF THE ISSUE OF WESTERN LANDS LEASES.', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 5 December, p. 6917. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article229751915
[7] Sands Directories: Sydney and New South Wales, Australia, 1861–1933. Balgowlah, Australia: W. & F. Pascoe Pty, Ltd: Arthur Watkin, Booligal, 1919-1925
[8] New South Wales Electoral Roll: Arthur Watkin, Killara, Mossgiel, 1933-1963
[9] 1946 'OBITUARY', The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1952), 28 February, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127584090
[10] Ancestry Public Family Tree [Baker Family Tree]: Arthur John Watkin
[11] Nomination: 1947 'Advertising', The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1952), 11 September, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127587079 ; Election: 1947 'Advertising', The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1952), 9 October, p. 3. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127587632
[12] 1952 'LANDS DEPARTMENT NOTICES. APPOINTMENT.', Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 - 2001), 8 February, p. 416. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220003336 ; 1952 'New Land Board Member', The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1952), 6 November, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131049290
[13] 1950 'LOCAL & GENERAL', The Hillston Spectator and Lachlan River Advertiser (NSW : 1898 - 1952), 27 April, p. 2. , http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131048369
[14] Virtual War Memorial Australia: Robert John (Bob) PETERS https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/121503
[15] Hillston Cemetery headstone photograph https://billiongraves.com/grave/Arthur-John-Watkin/26673793