Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-

Samuel Watchman was born at Nettlesworth, a small village near Chester-le-Street, County Durham in 1881, the youngest of 3 sons and a daughter. His father John Watchman of Gosford, Northumberland born 1844 married Louisa Carling native of Belmont, Durham born 1857, in the district of Chester-le-Street in 1874. They had moved to 65, Middle Row, West Rainton by 1901 with daughter Mary Elizabeth (6) and sons Matthew (5), John (2) and Samuel (5 months), John Watchman was employed as a coal miner and died between 1881 and 1891 in his early to mid 40’s.

Louisa Watchman in the census of 1891 was living as Mrs John Richie at 53, North Street, Newbottle, although she and John were not married until 1893 in the district of Sunderland. They had moved to 8, Havelock Street, Felling, Gateshead, by 1901, John and step-son Samuel (20) were both employed at the colliery as coal miners/hewers. Samuel’s elder siblings were no longer living at home.

Samuel was married in the district of Sunderland in 1904 to Maria Elizabeth Brown born at Swaffham, Norfolk in 1871 and 10 years his senior. They did not have any children, in 1911 living at 9, Norman Street, Felling, they had taken into their home Samuel’s elder brother John, the brothers were employed as hewers at the colliery.

Samuel Watchman enlisted, aged 33 years, for a minimum period of 3 years or the duration of war, at South Shields, September 5th 1914, requesting that he be assigned to a general service infantry regiment. He was posted as Private 15207 Border Regiment and sent September 7th to their depot at Carlisle to join the 9th Battalion, a holding Battalion providing reinforcements for the regular Territorials. February 11th 1915 he was transferred to the 3rd Border Regiment where he remained until March 21st 1915 when as part of the British Expeditionary Force he departed to France.

Attached to the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment he joined them in the field prior to their participation at the Battle of Aubers May 9th 1915, followed by Battle of Festubert May 15th-25th, an attack by the British army at Artois, the 2nd Action of Givenchy and the Battle of Loos October 25th-October 9th 1915. In 1916 the 2nd Battalion B. R attached to the 20th Brigade, 7th Division took part at the opening battle of the Somme, during the Battle of Albert July 1st-13th 1916, the Division captured Mametz.

July 2nd 1916 Private Watchman was posted to the rank of Lance Corporal and during either the Battle of Bazentin Ridge July 14th-17th or the actions at High Wood July 20th-25th 1916, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, which after the introduction of the lesser Military Medal, March 25th 1916, was reserved for exceptional acts of bravery and entitled the recipient to the post-nominal letters D.C.M. He was also a recipient of the Military Medal, August 10th 1916 awarded to personal of the British Army and other services for bravery in battle on land.

They continued their actions on the Somme at the Battle of Delville Wood July 13th-September 3rd, Guillemont September 3rd-6th 1916. December 12th 1916 Lance Corporal Watchman was promoted to the rank of Corporal. In 1917 the battalion participated during the Operations on the Ancre January 11th-March 13th, the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the actions at Bullecourt during the Battles of Arras and the 3rd Battle of Ypres July-November 1917.

Corporal Samuel Watchman was evacuated to England October 10th 1917 having received a gunshot wound, October 4th 1917, to the head which had also effected his right eye, in order to be treated at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester. Two months later he was granted leave to return home to 321, South Palmerston Street, High Shields, County Durham from December 1st-10th 1917. Whilst on leave Corporal Watchman was taken ill and admitted to the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

He recovered from this bout of illness and was transferred to the Labour Corp Royal Engineers at Chepstow, February 8th 1918 as Corporal WR/300611. Having appeared in front of the medical examination board he was discharged under King’s Regulations 392(xvi), no longer physically fit for war service and was permanently excluded from liability to medical examination under the Military Service Act of 1917 and awarded a pension.

The war service of Corporal Samuel Watchman D.C.M & M.M. was acknowledged with the awards also of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Samuel Watchman died at South Shields during the 1st quarter of 1922 aged 41 years. Although the circumstances of his death could well have been attributed to his war service the CWGC did not consider him a casualty of war as his death fell outside the cut-off date of August 31st 1921.

His widow Maria Elizabeth Watchman nee Brown did not remarry, she died at South Shields in 1950. On the assumption that census records are correct she would have been aged 79 years, however, is registered as 76 years.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.