Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
James Watson, born Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, July 6th 1884, son of John J. Watson born 1860 at Windy Nook, Gateshead and mother as yet unknown.
Alice Watson nee Brayson, daughter of William Brayson born at Felling in 1858 and wife Janet was not James’s birth mother, she had married John Watson at Gateshead in 1902. John Watson died in 1916 aged 56 years, Alice’s father William Brayson died aged 60 years in 1918.
James was educated at Felling and was employed as a Miner.
James Watson enlisted on the outbreak of war assigned as Private 3649, 11th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, one of Kitchener’s New Armies, part of the 45th Brigade, 15th Division. The battalion trained at Aldershot and Bramshott, they received uniforms and equipment in January 1915 before moving in February to Basingstoke and on to Chisledon.
June 9th 1915 they departed as part of the British Expeditionary Force bound for France landing at Boulogne joined over the following days by the remainder of the Division including the artillery. They served with distinction for the remainder of the war on the Western Front.
Under the command of Major-General F. McCracken the 15th Division participated at the Battle of Loos which raged from September 23rd-October 15th 1915 after which they returned to day to day trench warfare.
Private 3648 James Watson Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was killed by a sniper’s bullet during a moment of relaxation whilst reading in the trenches, November 4th 1915 and his body buried on the battlefield marked by a cross bearing his military details. During subsequent actions his grave was destroyed, his sacrifice is recorded as one of over 20,000 names of officers and men who died in the sector from the river Lys to Grenay, from the first day of the of the Battle of Loos until the end of the war, inscribed on the Loos Memorial to the Missing, Loos-en-Gohelle, France, commemorating those who have no known grave.
He was 32 years old and single. Recipient of the 14-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
James was a keen football player, and for several years played for the Selkirk and Clydesdale Rugby Clubs.
De Ruvigny Roll of Honour
