Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Kenneth Darnton WATSON

Military Cross

Recommendation:- 

‘Lieutenant WATSON was detailed as Forward Observation Officer with the Right Infantry Brigade in the attack of the PASSCHENDAELE RIDGE on the 4th October 1917. He showed great courage and initiative and was enabled to make a very valuable reconnaissance at grave risk to his own personal safety.

Lte WATSON moved forward after the Infantry had gained their Forward Objective and eventually was placed in a position where Enemy concentrations could be plainly seen but in advance of our own Protective Barrage Line, this being the only place suitable for such observation. Lieutenant WATSON, together with some Lewis Gunners, formed an Advanced Post. His messages, two of which were received, enabled the Artillery to completely disperse two large Enemy concentrations. He was also enabled to report on the ground from the point of view of suitable observation posts for Artillery. Throughout the day he was subjected to extremely heavy enemy fire. He showed a complete disregard for his own personal safety and helped considerably in repelling Enemy counter-attacks.’  

Kenneth Watson’s grandfather Darnton Watson arrived in Bendigo in 1854 to seek his fortune. He did moderately well as a miner, however he did very well as a merchant in the burgeoning city. It was his son Mr. George Darnton Watson who would later amass a fortune out of Garden Gully mines in 1870’s and was one of Bendigo's most prominent quartz reef owners in the country.

Young Kenneth was the third son of George D Watson and was boarding at Melbourne Grammar School when his father passed away in 1908. After school and successfully sitting the entrance exam to Melbourne University he would be sent to oversee the family sheep station. This was the occupation he listed on his Attestation Papers when he enlisted in December 1915. He also listed his mother (Adelaide Watson) as ‘Nearest of Kin’ as she was still living at the family home at 98 Harrison Street, Bendigo. The family would soon move to Toorak in late 1915.  

Kenneth spent time in training with the Australian Field Artillery camp at Maribyrnong and was commissioned to be an officer when he enlisted and sailed from Sydney in May 1916 with the 7th Field Artillery Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant. In France he would be appointed to the 7th Brigade Ammunition Column and by March 1917, he would be made Lieutenant.

He record states he was wounded in Action on September 16, 1917 remaining on duty.

He would undertake his brave deeds on October 4 at the commencement of another battle in a seven week Ypres campaign known as Passchendaele on October 4, 1917.

SERVICE DETAILS:  

Born: Bendigo May 25, 1893

Religion: Church of England

Occupation: Station overseer (Sheep station)

Address: 98 Harrison Street, Bendigo, Victoria

Marital status: Single

Age at enlistment: 22

Next of kin: Mother, Mrs A N Watson, Harrison Street, Bendigo

Enlistment date: 7 December 1915 in Melbourne

Rank on enlistment: 2nd Lieutenant

Final Rank: Lieutenant

Unit name: Field Artillery Brigade 7, Brigade Ammunition Column & 3rd Division Artillery

Embarked from Sydney, HMAT A8 Argyllshire on 11 May 1916

Unit from Nominal Roll
Died: 4 Oct 1951
Buried: Wodonga Cemetery

Medal Source: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette                  2 May 1918 on page 1035 at position 50

Fate: Returned to Australia October 8, 1919

Passchendaele Ridge on October 4, 1917.

The attack commenced at 6am October 4, 1917 after rain  commenced falling the day before. Coincidentally, the Germans planned an attack for exactly the same time. At 5.20am the German artillery opened up and then at 6am the Australian artillery started, both in preparation for impending attacks. After both troops emerged from their trenches to commence attacking to their surprise they found the enemy doing exactly the same. The Australians managed to recover from the shock quicker than their opponents as the Australian machine gunners opened up and cut the German lines to pieces. The Germans broke and the Australians managed to capture the ridge. The triumph at Broodseinde presented the Allied High Command with an opportunity, perhaps in the upcoming spring, of breaking the German hold.[1]

[1] ANZACS in France website - http://www.anzacsinfrance.com/1917/