WATKINS, John Edward
| Service Number: | 715 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 25 February 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Minmi, New South Wales, Australia, 18 September 1896 |
| Home Town: | Granville, Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner / Copper Smith |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Fromelles, France, 19 July 1916, aged 19 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial, Panel 9, Fromelles, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Granville War Memorial, V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 25 Feb 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 715 | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 715, 17th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 715, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 16 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 715, 17th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 3 Apr 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 53rd Infantry Battalion | |
| 19 Jul 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 715, 53rd Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 715 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1916-07-19 |
WATKINS John Edward
John Edward Watkins was born to Welsh parents Evan Watkins and Leah Watkins [nee Morgan]
from Monmouthshire in Wales he was one of 11 or 12 children { some died as babies },
His sister Rachel came to Australia with his parents on the " Samual Plimsoll "
in 1877,
John was born in Minmi NSW {Newcastle} reg No 32282. On the 18th August, 1896. He attended a Protestant day School. John was Church of England
By trade John was a Copper Smith and worked Latterly Mining
John Enlisted at Granville on the Feb 26th 1915 joining the 53rd Battalion Gunman Section His No 715. His father was his next of Kin and he lived in John St Lidcombe {Sydney}
Poor John was shot down on that terrible night in Fleurbaix Fromelles by a bullet in the initial charge then crawling back to his own line was then shot by a sniper. Rest in peace Dear Great Uncle. We will remember you Less we forget.
Submitted 19 January 2016 by Valerie Charlton
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Let us remember a Fallen Soldier of The Great War whose name has not been inscribed on the Minmi Roll of Honour.
On the 19th July 1916, Private John Edward Watkins, referred to as Jack, 53rd Battalion (Reg No-715), copper smith or miner from Cohen Street, Park Hill, Granville, New South Wales, was Killed in Action during the Battle of Fromelles, possibly killed by enemy sniper, age 19 years 10 months.
Born at Minmi, New South Wales on the 18th September 1896 to Evan Snr, died 11.11.1933, Kline Street, Weston, N.S.W., age 82, from Cockthorpe Road, Auburn, N.S.W. (1916) and Richmond Road, Flemington, N.S.W. (1918) and John Street, Lidcombe, N.S.W. (1919), formerly of Minmi and South Strathfield, N.S.W., and Leah Watkins nee Morgan, died 19.9.1932, 28 High Street, South Strathfield, N.S.W., age 78 or 79, mother of 10, not listed - late of Minmi, from Cockthorpe Road, Auburn, N.S.W. (1916) and Richmond Road, Flemington, N.S.W. (1918) and John Street, Lidcombe, N.S.W. (1919), Jack enlisted on the 25th February 1915 with the 17th Battalion, age 18 years 5 months, stated age 20 years 5 months, at Liverpool, N.S.W.
Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on the 12th May 1915.
Landed at Anzac Cove 20.8.1915.
Taken on Strength 53rd Battalion 3.4.1916.
Jack’s name has been inscribed on the V.C. Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial, Fromelles, France. Panel 9.
https://www.cwgc.org/.../v-c-corner-australian-cemetery.../.
https://www.cwgc.org/.../casu.../721926/john-edward-watkins/.
Place of Association - Granville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Mr. Watkins’s name has also been inscribed at the Granville War Memorial Park.
I do not know if there is a memorial inscription at the gravesite of Jack’s parents to tell us of the loss of their son during The Great War, so any information would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks to Valerie Charlton for the notification.
Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.
For more detail, see “Forever Remembered“.
http://www.commemoratingwarheroes.com/minmi-roll-of-honour/.
The Fromelles Association of Australia - https://fromelles.info/association/fact-sheets/ are asking for DNA samples for family connections to this soldier so visit the Fromelles Descendant Database - https://www.facebook.com/groups/353275321398458 or Missing soldier relatives database - https://www.army.gov.au/.../missing-soldier-relatives....
Profiled on The Fromelles Association of Australia - https://fromelles.info/.../715-private-john-edward-watkins/.
Lest We Forget.
Note: I will being adding names to the Minmi Roll of Honour that were born at Minmi, working at Minmi before enlistment, parents that are buried at Minmi Cemetery who lost a son or sons during The Great War, and a Fallen soldier whose Place of Association is Minmi.
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