WATSON, William
| Service Number: | 2478 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 September 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 24th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kensington, Victoria, Australia, 1891 |
| Home Town: | Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Kensington State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Driver |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 5 October 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Bellicourt British Cemetery Plot VI, Row T, Grave 6 WILL SOME KIND HAND IN THAT FAR OFF LAND PLACE ON HIS GRAVE A FLOWER FOR ME, Bellicourt British Cemetery, Bellicourt, Picardie, France |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2478, 24th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2478, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 29 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2478, 24th Infantry Battalion, RMS Osterley, Melbourne | |
| 5 Oct 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 2478, 24th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2478 awm_unit: 24 Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-10-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Stephen Brooks
Sergeant William Watson was wounded in action on the 5 August 1916, a gunshot wound to the left side. He rejoined the 24th Battalion in Belgium in late September 1916. He was promoted to Corporal in March 1917 and was wounded in action for a second time on the 20 September 1917 during the start of the great battle at Ypres. After a long period of training in England he rejoined his unit in France during August 1918 and was soon promoted to Sergeant. He was killed during the last battle of the AIF in France, at Montbrehain.
His younger brother, 1963A Pte. George Godfrey Watson also of the 24th Battalion AIF was killed in action on the 4 October 1917 near Ypres, aged 25.
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