Herbert Eugene Watson (1908 - 1998)

Born 7 Nov 1908 in West Gorton, Manchester,Lancashire,England,UK

Ancestors

Husband of Phyllis Ada (Rashleigh) Watson — married 1943 in Chelmsford,Essex,England,UK

Descendants

Died Oct 1998 at age 89 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Martin Hobbs-Watson [send private message]

Biography

Herbert Eugene "Jimmy" Watson was born on the 7th November 1908 in West Gorton, Manchester. He was the son of John Thomas Ding Watson and Charlotte Ethel Heggs ^[1][2]. He was baptised on the 17th December 1908 in Ardwick, Manchester ^[3]. The derivation of his name "Jimmy" is unknown (even he had forgotten!), most people thought it was he real name ^[4]. The name Eugene comes from his father's cousin. Great uncle Daniel's son Eugene. As an infant Jimmy grew up in Manchester ^[5].

As a young boy he and his family moved to Sheerness, Kent, sometime in late 1911 to early 1912. He attended Sheerness Technical School ^[6]. As a young man he trained as a bookbinder and a printer's ruler. He worked for a time in Fleet Street, London ^[7]. He later moved to Chelmsford, living in lodgings at the home of Glad Clarke, whom he stayed in contact with for the rest of his life ^[8]. It was in Manchester that he met his future wife.

Jimmy saw service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He became a Leading Sickbay Attendant serving aboard HMS Zephyr. He made several trips to Murmansk with the Arctic Convoys, but barely saw any action. He aided the american troops during the D-Day landings, but again saw hardly any action. He was in Copenhagen during the surrender of the German Fleet ^[7] .

During the war he married Phyllis Ada Rashleigh in about November 1943 in Chelmsford, Essex. ^[9]. He was 35 years old. After the war he and Phyllis moved to Canterbury, Kent. They lived briefly in The Mint Cottages, Harbledown before moving to 8 Sancroft Ave., Canterbury where they lived for the rest of their lives. He was employed as a Printer's Foreman. for J.A. Jennings, Canterbury for the whole of the remainder of his working life.

Jimmy died in October 1998 in a nursing home in Canterbury, just days before his 90th birthday ^[10]. He had a minor stroke during the previous summer which impaired his mobility. This prevented him from continuing his life-long passion of old time dancing.

Census Data

Census for England and Wales – 2 Apr 1911: ^[5]

John Tom Ding Watson, Head, Married, Male, 36, 1875, Furniture Salesman, Collingham

Charlotte Ethel Watson, Wife, Married, Female, 25, 1886, West Gorton, Lancashire

Percy Woodville Watson, Son, Male, 6, 1905, West Gorton, Lancashire

Herbert Euguene Watson, Son, Male, 2, 1909. West Gorton, Lancashire

Address: 50 Wren St, West. Gorton

Census for England and Wales – 19 Jun 1921: ^[6]

John Tom Ding Watson, Head, Male, 1876, 44, Nottinghamshire, Shop Manager, B Symons & Co Ltd House Furnishers

Charlotte Ethel Watson, Wife, Female, 1887, 34, West Gorton, Lancashire, Home Duties, -, ,

Percy Woodville Watson, Son, Male, 1904, 17, West Gorton, Lancashire, Boiler Maker Apprentice H M Dockyard, H M Dockyard, Sheerness,

Eugene Herbert Watson, Son, Male, 1909, 12, West Gorton, Lancashire,

Dorothy Rosalyn Watson, Daughter, Female, 1913, 8, Sheerness, Kent,

Frederick Gammon, Head, Male, 1883, 37, Herne Bay, Kent, Plumber, Craggs Bros Plumbers,

Gladys Gammon, Wife, Female, 1898, 23, Southborough, Kent, -, -, ,

Edward Underhill, Visitor, Male, 1901, 20, Southborough, Kent, Oxy Acetylene Welder, Shoett Bros Out Of Work,

Address: 3 Meyrick Road, Sheerness, Kent

1939 Register - 29 Sep: ^[8]

Gladys L Clarke, 26 Oct 1895, Female, Unpaid Domestic Duties, Married

Herbert E Watson, 07 Nov 1909, Male, Machine Rule & Bookbinder, Single

Address: Glandale, St. Vincents Rd., Chelmsford. Boarded with Gladys L. Clarke

Sources

1. ↑ England and Wales BMD Index. Births. Q4 OND Vol 8c page 785 West Gorton
2. ↑ Birth Certificate
3. ↑ Manchester, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915
4. ↑ Martin Watson, son
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1911 England, Wales and Scotland Census. PRO RG14 piece 23757, RG14PN23757 RG78PN1378B RD464 SD2 ED56 SN267
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} 1921 England, Wales and Scotland Census. PRO RG15 piece 04418, schedule 214. RD 62 RS 1 ED 9. Cited in FindMyPast https://www.findmypast.co.uk
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} As told by him to his son Martin Watson
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} The 1939 England and Wales Register, RG101/1494E/015/38 Letter Code: DBPX
9. ↑ England and Wales BMD Index. Marriages. Q4 OND Vol 4a page 1299 1943 Chelmsford
10. ↑ England and Wales BMD Index. Deaths. 5601C C2T 101 1098

• Martin Watson, son