WATTERSON, Percy Gordon
| Service Number: | 7326 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 November 1916, Brisbane, Queensland |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 15th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Mullumbimby, New South Wales, Australia, 29 May 1891 |
| Home Town: | Canungra, Scenic Rim, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Canungera Lower School, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation: | Teamster |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 4 July 1918, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
Crucifix Corner Cemetery Plot IX, Row B, Grave 16, Crucifix Corner Cemetery, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Beaudesert War Memorial, Canungra War Memorial, Murwillumbah War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Nov 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 7326, Brisbane, Queensland | |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Jan 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 7326, 15th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ayrshire embarkation_ship_number: A33 public_note: '' | |
| 24 Jan 1917: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 7326, 15th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ayrshire, Sydney | |
| 4 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 7326, 15th Infantry Battalion, Le Hamel - Blueprint for Victory, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 7326 awm_unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-07-04 |
Help us honour Percy Gordon Watterson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Alison Anderson
"Born in Mullimbimby, New South Wales, to Thomas and Mary Watterson in 1891, Percy had a younger brother, Allan (Allie) Watterson, who also served during the war. The family had relocated to Pine Creek around 1908 and Percy was working as a labourer at Lahey’s Sawmill in the nearby timber town of Canungra when he enlisted in November 1916, aged 25. He left Sydney on the Ayrshire on January 24, 1917, and arrived in Devonport, England, on April 12. After further training at Codford, he embarked for France on July 17, and in early August was taken on strength with the 24th reinforcements of the 15th Battalion.
The mostly Queensland battalion had suffered heavy losses at Bullecourt in April, after attacking strongly defended German positions without the tank support it had expected. For the rest of 1917, most of the 15th Battalion’s operations were in Belgium, pushing towards the Hindenburg Line. In March and April of 1918, the battalion played an important role helping to halt the German army’s Spring Offensive. The battalion’s only Victoria Cross of the war was awarded to Private Henry Dalziel, for his bravery at Hamel, where Percy Watterson was killed in action. Initially buried at Hamel with his other fallen comrades, Percy was later re-interred at the Crucifix Corner Cemetery at Villers-Bretonneux..." - READ MORE LINK (canungraansweredthecall.org.au)
"WATTERSON.- A tribute of love to our fond son and brother, P. G. Watterson (Perce), 15th Battalion, A.I.F., killed in action, 4th July, 1918, at Hamel.
Seven years to-day the sad message came,
Since our great sorrow fell,
Yet in our hearts we mourn the loss,
Of him we loved so well."
R.I.P. - Inserted by his sorrowing parents, brothers, and sisters.
WATTERSON.- In loving memory of our dear brother (Perce), P. G. Watterson, killed in action at Hamel Wood on July 4th.
To have, to love, and then to part,
Is the saddest thing of a human heart."
Ever remembered. - Inserted by his loving sisters, Margaret and Leoda." - from the Brisbane Courier 10 Jul 1925 (nla.gov.au)
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