William Thornton Watson (1887)

Born 1887 in New Zealand

Ancestors

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Biography

William was born in 1887. He is the son of Robert Watson and Annie Harford.

Sources

• 1887/10891 Watson William Thomson Annie Robert

William Thornton Watson

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 7 November 1917 THE D.C.M.

AWARDED TO A NELSONlAN. Mr Robert Watson, of Nelson has received from the Officer-in-charge of the Base Records, Australian Department of Defence, a copy of the .London 'Gazette relating to the award of the Distinguished Conduct, Medal to his son,; Sergeant William Thornton Watson, of. the First Australian Field . Artillery Brigade, for conspicuous services rendered. "

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 26 November 1917 Mr R. Watson has received cable advice that his eldest son, W. T. Watson; of the Ist Australian Artillery Division has been wounded.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 10 December 1917 Further official information was received by Mr and Mrs R. Watson, of Washington Valley, on Saturday, of the wound suffered in France by their eldest son, Lieutenant W. T. Watson, of the Australian Artillery. The Minister of Defense conveyed a cable received that day from the authorities at Melbourne, "reporting that Lieutenant Watson was admitted to the 3rd London General Hospital on November 21st with a severe gunshot wound in the abdomen. As a captain of Australian infantry, the lieutenant saw service in German New Guinea, where he took over New Hanover from the enemy. Then he was in a lot of fighting at Gallipoli. On the Western front he has had strenuous experiences and gained the D.C.M. "for conspicuous bravery in rescuing wounded and for the splendid example he set all through." He is the eldest of Mr and Mrs Watson's sons to be severely _wounded, while two have given their lives.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 109, 11 May 1918 Forty months of active service without a single day in hospital was part of the record of Lieut. W. T. Watson when a piece of high-explosive shell ripped a nine-inch slit in his equator.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 259, 28 October 1918 Base Records Office, Melbourne, advised Mr R. Watson last Saturday afternoon that his son, Lieutenant W. T. Watson, D.C.M., of the Australian 2nd Artillery Brigade was admitted (7th October) to 3rd London General Hospital, England, gassed.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 4 April 1921 Mr W. T. Watson, last season's captain of the New South Wales Rugby Union, has accepted a position in the Islands, and announced that be would be unavailable for selection during tho coming football season. He tendered his resignation from the management committee. The departure of a man like "Billy" Watson-, says.the Daily Telegraph is as serious a blow as the Union has ever sustained, and it is difficult at present to foresee whom the selectors can entrust with the responsibilities of captaincy against the South Africans in June. Watson has been a great leader primarily because he believes in precept. His idea of leading a pack was always to "get there himself," and although he was' a front row forward, and the hardest scrummager in New South Wales, there was never another player closer on the ball throughout the most strenuous games than the ex-A.I.F. skipper. Mr Watson, who is a son of Mr and Mrs Robert Watson, of Nelson, has gone to the Islands under engagement to the Commonwealth Government. Mr Watson fought at Rabaul with the Australian Forces, and later acted as British Commissioner.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 26 August 1921 The New South Wales football team at present touring New Zealand, arrived in Nelson from Blenheim yesterday afternoon, and left for the .West Coast this morning. One of the first things the team did after arriving in Nelson was to call on Mr Robert, Watson, whose son, Mr W Watson, was captain of the N S Wales representative team before be left for a Government appointment in New Guinea. The visitors spoke in high terms of praise of Mr W Watson's leadership on the football field and were very glad to have the opportunity of passing on appreciation to Mr Robert Watson personally.

RUGBY FOOTBALL Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 18 May 1929 W. T. Watson coaches police team. Captain W. T. Watson, M.C , D CM., who led the Australian Imperial Force Rugby Union team during its tour of Great Britain, after the armistice, and subsequently captained New South Wales, will be the coach or tho Sydney Police team, which has been admitted to the Rugby Unions first-grade competition this season. Watson has been presented with an A.I F honour cap by the New South Wales Rugby Union. W. T. Watson is a son of Mr Robert. Watson of Nelson.