WATSON, John Russell
| Service Number: | 11911 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 October 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 4th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Kensington, Victoria, Australia, 30 June 1893 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Kensington State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Died of wounds, France, 5 June 1918, aged 24 years |
| Cemetery: |
Wimereux Communal Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais - Hauts-de-France Plot XI, Row H, Grave 2. SOON TO FAITHFUL WARRIORS COMETH REST |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Kensington ANA Flemington Branch No69 Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Oct 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 11911, 4th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 28 Jan 1916: | Involvement Gunner, 11911, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 28 Jan 1916: | Embarked Gunner, 11911, 4th Field Artillery Brigade, HMAT Themistocles, Melbourne | |
| 5 Jun 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 11911, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 11911 awm_unit: 15th Australian Field Artillery Battery awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-06-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
John Russell Watson was the son of William and Helen Watson, of Brighton Beach, Victoria. He enlisted in 1915 at 22 years of age. Known to his family and friends as ‘Jack’ he was a powerfully built young man at six feet one inch tall and he weighed over thirteen stone.
His younger brother, Lieutenant George Williamson Watson 58th Battalion AIF was killed in action on 19 August 1916, near Fromelles, aged just 20 years.
John started serving with the Artillery on the Western Front from early 1916 and survived unscathed for over two years. He had an opportunity to visit Edinburgh, Scotland when on leave in 1917. He wrote home “he thoroughly enjoyed himself and greatly valued the kindness shown. He says it is no wonder that the Scots are proud of Edinburgh, and he would like to see the city which surpasses it.”
He was promoted to Sergeant during February 1918.
He was seen to be badly gassed and burned when in action on 1 June 1918 and although he was transported to the 53rd General Hospital in Boulogne, France, he died of his wounds four days later.
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