The AIF Project

William Henry WATSON

Regimental number1789
Place of birthSydney New South Wales
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationCompany secretary
AddressFairfield, New South Wales
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation37
Next of kinWife, Mrs E Watson, Fairfield, New South Wales
Enlistment date19 May 1915
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name17th Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/34/2
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A23 Suffolk on 28 July 1915
Rank from Nominal RollCompany Sergeant Major
Unit from Nominal Roll17th Battalion
FateReturned to Australia 31 August 1916
Medals

Military Cross

'For conspicuous gallantry. He remained at his billet under heavy shell fire till all ranks of his company had been withdrawn to safety. He then entered a burning house for the company records, and, though a fragment of shell broke his leg, he succeeded in crawling away with the records.' Second description reads: 'For great courage and devotion to duty shown during a hostile bombardment of the billets of his Company on 25th April, south of Armentieres. This N.C.O. remained at the billet under a heavy shell fire until he had personally satisfied himself that all ranks of the Company had been withdrawn to places of safety. He then entered the billet notwithstanding that it had been hit with H.E. and Incendiary shells and was burning furiously, and collected a number of the company records which he removed to a place of safety. By this time the house was burning fiercely and shells were dropping in the vicinity at the rate of 5 or 6 a minute. He voluntarily entered the building a second time and succeeded in recovering the remainder of the Company records. On leaving the building he was struck by a fragment of shell which broke his leg, but he succeeded in crawling out of the danger zone, still retaining the records in his possession. The coolness and courage displayed by this N.C.O. was of the highest order.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 176
Date: 30 November 1916

Other detailsMedals: Military Cross, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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