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Harry Watson

Conflict: 
WW1
Additional Information: 

(Served as BLACK). Son of John and Mary Watson, of Herbert, North Otago, New Zealand. Native of Paisley, Scotland.

References:
  • CWGC
  • Archives New Zealand
NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

Harry Watson attested on April 5th 1916, and served under the name of John William Black. Leaving for Europe on 25th July 1916 from Wellington , he arrived in Plymouth, England on the 3rd October and marched in to Sling Camp, Wiltshire. He left for Etaples, France on the 20th of that month, arriving the next day.

Marching to join his division a month later, he "absented himself without leave" and was not seen again until his arrest on the 25th January 1917. He rejoined his division "from custody" on the 18th March, charged with desertion and sentenced to "death by being shot" on the 24th April.

This was commuted to "10 years penal servitude" and commuted again to 116 days loss of pay and time served, 26 days.

He was killed in action at the Battle of Messines on the 6th May 1917. [Source: Service Record, Archives New Zealand]

 

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Personal Tributes:

Casualty

Service Number: 
17751
Name:
Harry Watson
Rank: 
Private
Date of Birth:
09 January 1884
Place of Birth: 
Paisley, Scotland
Next of Kin: 
John Watson (father), Herbert, Otago, New Zealand
Date of Enlistment:
Not known
Occupation on Enlistment:
Labourer
Armed Force: 
Army
Unit:
NZEF, Otago Regiment, 1 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:
Killed in action
Date of Death:
06 May 1917
Day of Death:
Sunday
Age at Death: 
36
Conflict: 
WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:
New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Place:
Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date:
26 July 1916
Transport:

HMNZT 59
HMNZT 60
Vessel:
Waitemata or Ulimaroa
Destination:
Devonport, England

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery: 
Maple Leaf Cemetery
Cemetery Reference: 
N. 9.
Cemetery Location: 
Belgium
Harry Watson
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