Thomas Langford WATTS

Thomas Langford WATTS Update Details

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WATTS, Thomas Langford

Service Number:	1003
Enlisted:	20 July 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	30th Infantry Battalion
Born:	North Shore, New South Wales, Australia, 1897
Home Town:	Hurstville, Kogarah, New South Wales
Schooling:	Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Printer
Died:	Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 20 July 1916
Cemetery:	Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Bethune, Nord Pas de Calais Plot I. Row K. Grave 59. Inscription: WE HAVE LOST HEAVEN HAS GAINED ONE OF THE BEST THE WORLD CONTAINED
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour

World War 1 Service

20 Jul 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1003, Depot Battalion , Liverpool, New South Wales
9 Nov 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Beltana, Sydney
9 Nov 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Beltana embarkation_ship_number: A72 public_note: ''
11 Dec 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Suez, Egypt
16 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, Embarked Alexandria for B.E.F per H.M.T. "Hororata"
23 Jun 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, Disembarked Marseilles, France
19 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)
20 Jul 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1003, 30th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), Killed In Action

Help us honour Thomas Langford Watts's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon

The little message left on this headstone in Row K of Private Thomas Langford Watts, killed on 2oth July aged just 19.

They were good friends, they joined on the same day- their service numbers were 1002 & 1003.

Syd Wells was Wounded in Action and eventually returned to Australia aboard HT “Beltana” then discharged medically unfit on 18th January 1918

The note says ‘Thank you for the life of Sydney Bryden Wells – 20.7.16 – Reg No 1002 – 30thBn 5th Division AIF’.

Concerning Sydney Bryden Wells and the message on the grave of Private Thomas Langford Watts, this message was put by the descendants of S W Wells in July 2016, for the centenary of the Battle of Fromelles. Pivate Watts returned on the No Man’s Land in the sector of Cordonnerie Farm/Delangre Farm, to rescue his mates, he saved Sydney’s life. They were almost safe near the aid post when a bullet struck Watts in the head, killing him instantly, After the war Wells became a barber in Wollongong. Last July descendants of both soldiers had a meeting at Fromelles.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/descendants-meet-at-fromelles-to-honour-a-hero-and-victim/news-story/e7b3c0d16e195c85ab62e632900f1a03

Pierre Seillier, FWTM (Fromelles Remembrance Association)

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