WATSON G W

WATSON, Geoffrey William

Regiment: 11th Bn Cheshire Regiment

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Number:

Died: 1 August 1917

Aged: 21

Buried/ Memorial: Ypres, Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium

Address: 23 Shavington Avenue, Hoole

Cheshire Observer 11 August 1917

PRO PATRIA

ANOTHER CHESTER OFFICER KILLED

SEC- LIEUT G W WATSON

“It is our painful duty today to chronicle the death of yet another young Cheshire officer Sec Lieut Geoffrey William Watson of the Cheshire Regiment, second son of Mr and Mrs R H Watson of Shavington Avenue Hoole. The mournful news was received on Tuesday in a telegram….the War office: “Deeply regret to inform you Sec Lieut G W Watson Cheshire regiment was killed in action August 1st.” The customary sympathy from the War …. was appended. Sec Lieut Mick Watson as he was affectionately known had may friends in the Chester district. He left Chester in July 1913, on being awarded a scholarship at Holmes Chapel where he was when War broke out. In November along with many of his fellow students he enlisted 2nd Batt of the Public Schools Battalion Royal Fusiliers with which………………..active service in France……….for a commission in the Army. …his training in the 6th cadet battalion Trinity College Oxford and Cheshire Regiment in July. 19th November…………………….He was home on leave and returned……in the beginning of July. He………as Sec Lieut…….Mr and Mrs…………..was unfortunately killed in June. Sec Lieut G W Watson’s elder brother Noel, a Sec Lieut also in the Cheshires…being wounded in France is now serving in another battle Front. The deepest sympathy will be extended to the bereaved parents and family in the loss of a bright………who made friends wherever he went.”

Chester Chronicle 11 August 1917

SECOND LIEUT. G.W. WATSON (KILLED)

“It is with deep regret that we announce that Second Lieutenant Geoffrey William (“Mick”) Watson, Cheshire Regiment, has been killed in action. The second son of Mr and Mrs. Watson, 23 Shavington Avenue, he was educated at the King’s School, Chester and left in 1913 to become a student at the Holmes Chapel Agricultural College, where he had won a scholarship. When war broke out he enlisted (November 1914) in the Public Schools Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, and in July, 1916, he received a commission in the Cheshire Regiment. He was killed in action on 1st August. He was in the same battalion as Second Lieut. Charles Potts, son of Mr. And Mrs. Hubert Potts, who fell in action last month. Deep sympathy will be felt for the parents in the loss of a son who promised to have a most successful career, and was esteemed by all who knew him. The late Second Lieut. G.W. Watson’s elder brother, Noel, is a Second Lieut. also in the Cheshires, and after being wounded in France, is now serving on another battle front.”

The 1911 Census shows Geoffrey as a 14-year-old school boy living at 23 Shavington Avenue together with father Robert, mother Charlotte brothers John Noel and Henry, sisters Christine and Winifrede and domestic servant Lucy Wrench.