Corporal H. E. Watson, Medical Orderly, 2/1 Northumberland Hussars, Kingscliffe Camp Scarboro. is recorded in the Lodge Temperance 2557 hand written ROH at the rear of the minute book.

The Northumberland Yeomanry were also known as the Northumberland Hussars. The 2/1st was formed as a second-line regiment in October 1914 and moved to Gosforth Park. In May 1915 the regiment moved to Scarborough where it remained until April 1916 when it began to be split up, although 'A' squadron remained there. It has proved difficult to identify a convincing service or pension record or WW1 Medal Roll for Henry, so his military career has been omitted. However, we do know that in December 1914 the German Navy bombarded the east coast and seriously damaged the offices of Kingscliffe camp with a shell. Perhaps Henry was there and experienced the shelling!

Henry Ernest Watson was the son of John Henry and Mary Watson (nee Leake). They were married in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1879 and had at least seven children of which five survived childhood, including:
•John Percival (b 1882)
•Henry Ernest (1887)
•Margaret Muriel (b 1891)
•Helen Norine (b 1893)
•Mary Noble (b 1899)

Henry married Winifred Hornsby in Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1915. They had a least one child:
•Ernest P. Watson (b 1917)

Henry was born in Gosforth, Newcastle Upon Tyne and in the census taken in April 1911, was a Clerk working for the Newcastle Corporation and living with his parents John and Mary Watson and his three sisters Margaret, Helen and Mary at 140, Sidney Grove, Elswick.

Henry was a Freemason and member of Lodge Temperance No 2557 which held its meetings in the Old Assembly Rooms, Westgate Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Henry’s Masonic career started on the 17th March 1913 when he was proposed by Isaac Adamson and seconded by G. W. Maughan as a fit and proper person to be a Freemason. He was a 25 year old Clerk living at 140, Sidney Grove, Newcastle and duly elected by ballot at the meeting of 21st April. He was initiated into the Mysteries and Privileges of Ancient Freemasonry on Monday 16th June and passed to the second or Fellow Craft degree on the 21st July, being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on the 18th August. He signed and received his Grand Lodge certificate in open Lodge on the 17th November 1913.

Henry died on the 26th May 1963 at 42, Deneholm, Monkseaton. In his will he left £1954 3s to his wife Winifred.

Henry Ernest Watson is remembered in Newcastle on NUT254