Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Joseph Charles Watson was born in October 1893. He lived in Cheltenham, Adelaide during his life prior to war. Joseph played football for the Port Adelaide Football Club during the 1914 season. He was regarded as a “brilliant half forward” by ‘The Adelaide Express and Telegraph.’ The team was undefeated throughout the season and went on to defeat the premiers of the VFL, Carlton. His team were made the Premiers of Australia. Soon after, on the 11th of September 1914, Watson enlisted for the army at Morphettville Training Camp. After a month and nine days after enlistment and training, Joseph embarked on the H.M.A.T Ascanius, heading for Egypt where he trained further.

Being 21 years of age, a football player and part of the Australian Champion Football Team, it was assumed that Watson was a strong and fit man. This would have made the months of training in Egypt a little bit easier for him than other soldiers, although the conditions were found to be very harsh for anyone, no matter their fitness or strength. Factors such as sickness and wounds were normally unavoidable during the war, hence why Joseph was diagnosed with Pneumonia many times during his fighting. On the 7th of May 1915, Watson was taken on strength from the training camp in Egypt and landed in Gallipoli a few months later as part of the 10th Battalion.

Watson showed tremendous bravery and leadership throughout the various battles he fought in. He was recognised for the qualities he possessed and was promoted many times. Joseph was originally promoted from Private to Lance Corporal during the fighting in Gallipoli on the 21st of September. 1915 He was then promoted to Corporal three months later on the 3rd of November. After the evacuation of Gallipoli began on the 15th of December, Watson left as one of the last of the soldiers to leave on the 19th – 20th of December. Joseph disembarked from the evacuation ship and arrived in Alexandrina, Egypt on the 29th of December 1915.

Three days after arriving in Alexandrina, Joseph Charles Watson was promoted again to Sergeant, most likely for his efforts during the fighting in Gallipoli. On the 27th of March 1916, Joseph embarked the BEF Alexandrina heading to Marseille. The arrival in Marseille, was not as simple as some of the soldiers at the time were expecting. “We reached Marseille at 11am and disembarked at 11:30pm and entrained (caught a train) for an unknown destination. Arriving at destination at 1:20am on the same day (3rd of April), we did not disentrain (leave the train) until 3pm on the 5th of April. Eventually disentrained at Godewaersvelde and marched to Moolenarcher where we trained until 20th of April. We moved to Metren not far from Sailly, where brigade HQ was situated.” - Stanley Price, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 10th Battalion (at the time) on the arrival in Marseille.

A couple of months after arriving on the Western Front, on the 3rd of June, Watson was admitted into the “2nd Birmingham Hospital” in England with pneumonia. Sickness was common amongst the soldiers, because of the poor conditions in which they lived. A month later, on the 24th of July 1916, around the time of the Battle of Pozieres, Watson was recognised once more for his bravery in battle. “During the consolidation of trench games, Sergeant Watson displayed great courage and leadership although his platoon was reduced from 35 to 9. He stuck to his post and did everything possible to encourage the few men left to hang on until reinforcements arrived.” -Letter of recommendation (mentioned in despatch) from the officer at the time.

After his brave fighting on the Western Front, Watson began training on command at the school of instructions in England on the 18th of August. Joseph was then promoted to Company Sergeant Major in the field in France on the 17th of October 1916. Just under two months later, on the 2nd of December, Watson was diagnosed with a severe case of pneumonia in Boulogne. So severe in fact, that he was taken back to England from Boulogne on the Hospital Ship “St Andrews.” When on leave from hospital in England, Watson attempted to escape to re-join with his unit in France. This shows that he was a true leader who lead by example and was courageous enough to leave a safe hospital to return and fight by his friends in dangerous circumstances. Joseph was caught and returned to hospital. He rejoined his unit on the 19th of January 1917.

On the 8th of May, 1917, Joseph was wounded in action during a battle in Bullecourt, France. The wound was described as a serious Howitzer & QF 18-pounder gun shell shot. Unfortunately, Watson died from these wounds on the 12th of May. He was buried at Grevillers British Cemetery in Picardie, France ¼ miles West of Bapaume. Watson was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star Medal. Throughout his service in the war, Joseph displayed leadership qualities, strong mateship and outstanding bravery in extremely tough circumstances. He displayed the qualities of a true ANZAC soldier.

BIBLOGRAPHY:

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