WATKINS, Owen Meredith
| Service Numbers: | 1511, 1262 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 26 August 1914, Enlisted at Melbourne |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1876 |
| Home Town: | Mirboo North, Latrobe - Victoria, Australia, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 27 April 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hallston and District WW1 Roll of Honor, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 26 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1511, 13th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Melbourne | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1511, 13th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1511, 13th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Berrima, Melbourne | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Embarked Private, 1262, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 22 Dec 1914: | Involvement Private, 1262, 14th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' |
Help us honour Owen Meredith Watkins's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Owen Meredith “Tony” Watkins (Reg No. 1511) was born 1876 at Pleasant Creek in the borough of Stawell, a middle child to David and Letitia Watkins. His siblings included an older brother William David, older sister Gwynneth Jane and two younger siblings Mary Eleanor and John Craddock. A further sibling George Chapman was born in 1880 but died 1881. His father, David Watkins a Tailor owned his own shop in Campbell Street, Borough of Stawell from 1871- circa 1876, he then appears to have sold the shop and was leasing it back – initially from William Ainsley and in 1879 John Allingham (Victoria, Australia Rate Books, Borough of Stawell 1870-1881). David Watkins was one of original Allambee settlers, taking up a selection of 320 acres in 1878 in the headwaters of Watkins Creek – Lot 23.
It is believed the family moved to the selection shortly thereafter, with David advocating for the establishment of a school, along with the Dawsons and Atkins families in 1884. The school was opened on Nurses property on McDonalds Track on 1st September 1888 with 18 students and closed 31st December 1889 due to only having 7 students. Little more is known of David and Letitia, save to say Letitia died in 1881 and David 18th December 1894 at Yarram. Probate was granted to his daughter Gwynneth Jane Watkins a Tailoress (taking after her father) Owen Meredith grew up in Allambee and worked as a labourer as evidenced in the inquest into the death of Arthur
Lloyd of Allambee in 1894, which documents Meredith Watkins working as a labourer for Samuel Risely and John Kennedy (scrub cutting contractors).
He enlisted on 24th August 1914, aged 38. He was 5’5”, brown eyes, grey hair weighing 11 stone. His religion is noted as Wesleyan. Following his initial training at Broadmeadows he embarked on H.M.A.T. A.35 “Berrima” on 22/12/1914 with the 14th Battalion AIF. They landed in Cairo Egypt, where Owen was transferred to the 13th Battalion before embarking for Gallipoli. He died 27th April 1915 at Gallipoli and was buried in front of the trenches, Rev W Grant officiating. His flute was amongst his personal effects returned to his sister Gwynneth.
Courtesy of Avenel
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of David and Letitia Watkins
Next of kin given as his sister G.J. Patterson of Mirboo North, Victoria. Brother of John C. Watkins of Repulic of Panama and W.D. Watkins of Kew Asylum
Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
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