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Gnr. Harold John Ernest Watkins . British Army 24th Medium and Heavy Regiment, B Squad, A Battery Royal Artillery from The Lodge, Craig-y-Parc, Pentyrch, Cardill (d.14th July 1946)
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Sgt. Lionel Joseph "Whacker" Watkins . Home Guard 5th Gloucestershire Battalion from Gloucester Lionel Watkins was a very quiet man who happily worked on the Great Western Railway, when wars didn't interfere.
He lived in Gloucester all his life, but in 1915 joined the Gloucestershire Regiment.
He was an early member of the Territorial Army and held his rank of Serjent when he volunteered for overseas service. He trained in Wiltshire and then went out to the Western Front where he saw repeated action, and twice was there when officers gained Victoria Crosses for outstanding bravery. They were Captain Adrian Carton de Wiart and Acting Captain Manley James.
He never discussed his war service with his sons, but was able to talk about some of it with his eldest grandson, me. What he never mentioned was that he was shot during the battle where Capt James won his honour.
Researching his history, I was surprised to discover he was shot in the left arm on 22nd of April 1918, and was treated by the 59th Field Ambulance.
By the nature of the numerous horrific wounds that many soldiers suffered, his was a relatively minor one, and seems to have thought it was not worth mentioning.
I have been to various places on the Somme where I have been able to trace some of his movements. Now I have to return to France to find where the 8th Gloucesters reinforced the weakened line at St Quentin.
He could not have been seriously hurt because he was in action at Messines within a month, and eventually returned home safe and well to Gloucester where he duly married... and the rest is history, family, sons, grandsons and during WW2 he served in the Home Guard as CSM.
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Flt.Lt. Montague Watkins . Royal Air Force from Sidcup My father Monty Watkins served with the RAF during WW2.
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Sgt. Price Watkins . British Army Gordon Highlanders from South Wales My father, Price Watkins, served in the Gordon Highlanders and during WWII was a sergeant on tanks. He was injured following a direct hit on his tank and was evacuated home.
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RP Watkins . British Army RP Watkins served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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S Watkins . British Army Royal Army Service Corps S Watkins served with the Royal Army Service Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Samuel R. Watkins . United States Air Force 398th Sqdn. 601st Bomb Group My father was a member of the 601st Bomb Group, 398th Squadron. He flew missions from October 1944 until April 1945. One of his planes was the `Tar Heel Lemon'. His co-pilot's name was Wilson, navigator Swartz, bombadier Dodson/Dobson, and the rest of the crew were Pricer, Harris, Mansey, Piha and Tueller.
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Firemn. Sidney Andrew Watkins . Merchant Navy SS. Fort Brandon from 55 Brighton Rd. Eastham, London Looking for anyone who served with my father, Sidney A. Watkins,in the Merchant Navy.
I have his war payslips from nine vessels he served on whilst in merchant navy; SS Tudor Star,SS Fort Brandon, SS Vimeira, SS Lornaston, SS Calgary, SS Norman Star, SS Port Sydney, SS Ocean Volga, SS Oceanfame, SS Empire Pibroch
While serving on SS Tudor Star he got a letter from the Admiralty thanking the crew for shooting down enemy planes on 4th February 1941.
I am trying to build a family tree and fill in missing links through war years, before he came to New Zealand in 1947/8 aboard the SS. Port Maquarie.
I am trying to establish, for his children, grand and great grand childern, this part of his history. I would be grateful for any information anyone can provide
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Able Sea. Sidney Andrew Watkins . Merchant Navy from 3 Magdalene Gardens, East ham Sidney Andrew Watkins, service number R164516 Fireman AB/Gunner, British Merchant Navy from 1940 to 1946. He served on vessels Vimiera, Lornaston, Calgary, Norman Star, Port Sydney, Ocean Volga, Ocean Fame, Empire Pibroch, Fort Brandon and SS Tudor Star. It was aboard the Tudor Star that dad and the crew received a letter of congratulations from the Admiralty of the Fleet dated 17th February 1941, about an encounter with an enemy aeroplane they shot down on 4th February 1941.
If anyone can shed light on the movements of any of these vessel it would be very much appreciated. I do have account of wage dockets to my father from all above vessels but not much else, and like others am attempting to piece together war memories that can be passed on to my children and grandchildren.
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T Watkins . British Army T Watkins served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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T Watkins . British Army T Watkins served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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Pte. Thomas Anthony Watkins . British Army East Surrey Regiment from Bridgend, S Wales (d.25th August 1946)
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Vi Watkins . Womens Land Army
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Pte William Herbert Watkins . Federated Malay States Volunteer Force Perak from Victoria Australia Mining engineer and dredge assistant with Tongkah Harbour Tin Limited, Bidor, Malaya.
Captured by Japanese with his brother-in-law Gordon Fleming and both transferred to Changi.
Relocated to Malai Camps, worked on the Thai Burma Railroad.
Survived the war and returned to Australia.
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Pte. J Watkinson . British Army 9th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Pte.J Watkinson served with the 9th Btn. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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ML Watkinson . British Army ML Watkinson served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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TW Watkinson . British Army TW Watkinson served with the British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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A/RQMS Alfred Edward Watling . British Army Northamptonshire from Eye, Suffolk This is a brief record of my father's time serving in the Army before and during WW11. He was born on 13/11/1908 and signed on for the Northamptonshire Regiment on 10/1 1925 at the age of 16 years and 2 months saying he was the right age to sign on. He served till 21/6/1933,Then was recalled on 1/9/1939,till 1/8/1940. (p) Was then in The Buffs from 2/8/1940 till 3/3/1941. He then transferred to the MPSC at the rank of A/RQMS till being demobbed on 8/12/1245. In 1941 he was Stationed at the Tower of London where he guarded and looked after Josef Jakob the last man to be shot by firing squad at the Tower, They used to play cards together in his cell whilst waiting for his trial, and my father was the one who had to walk with him to the firing squad on 15 August 1941,
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F/O Watson . Royal Air Force 615 Sqdn. Historial Document:
Recorded from Flying Officer F.P.Fahy NZ411980 RNZAF and RAF 615. Fighter Squadron Pilots Log Book
(BAF Personnel Bureau (NZ) Assn.Doc.A1)
On the 10th August 1944, all of our aircraft RAF 615 (County of Surrey) Fighter Squadron were flying from Palel in Assam to Baigachi, Bengal. We where about 80 miles east of Calcutta when we flew into a monsoon storm.
I saw the C.O.'s Section disappear above me and I glanced in the cockpit, my instruments had, had it. There was no visability and none of the plane's controls were working. I made up my mind that it was time I parted company with the aircraft. This wasn't easy, the hook stuck and I had a hell of a job. Finally, it came away and to the right mainplane about three feet from the centre-section. Hell's teeth I thought I had been in a hurry up until then, but I really got going now. In fact I jumped out helmet and all plugged in. I must have swung like a pendulum going around for a few seconds, that seemed like hours, waiting for the thud of the ground, when I felt a jerk.
I looked up and from that moment on I have a passion for mushrooms. There above me was the chute letting me down and the chute began to fold in and spill air. I pulled on the rigging lines, as I had been told and was able to control the rate of descent. It was about 20 seconds before I saw the ground or should I say river. Yes, I landed up to my neck in water. I was helped by natives to shelter. After an hour's rest, I heard news of another pilot who was a few villages away who had been injured. I was able to get to him later that day and a sampan took us to the nearest motorable road. We arrived in Calcutta the following day. Here we received news that the C.O. had been killed and three others. Eight of the other machines got through safely after being sucked right out of the cloud into brilliant sunshine. An L.A.C. at Ops was able to vector them in safely. This airman for his wide awake action received a Mention in Despaches. The C.O.'s body was the only body recovered as it was thought the others were in an area that it would not be possible. So, these were posted missing believed killed.
The C.O. was buried in Calcutta. He was thought so much of by his Squadron, that a letter was sent to his mother asking what she would like as a memorial to him. Funds were raised and a stainless glass window is now installed in the church in his home town in Australia.
He was held responsible for the accident by a court of enquiry, but I still wonder if it was an error on his part. Three pilots bailed out successfully and one force-landed.
Casualty List 10th August 1944
Lost SQD Leader D McCormack DFC & Bar RAAF (Killed)
F/O W S Bond RCAF (Missing believed killed)
F/O M Pain RAAF (Missing believed killed)
W/O Chappell RAAF (Missing believed killed)
Bailed Out
Flying Officer Costain RAF (Broken leg)
F/O Armstrong RCAF (Dislocated knee cap)
F/O F.P.Fahy RNZAF (Twisted knee)
Force landed
F/O Watson RAF (Unhurt)
8 other Squadron aircraft and pilots landed safely.
'LEST WE FORGET'
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A H Watson . British Army Wiltshire Regiment A Watson served with the Wiltshire Regiment British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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P/O A. R. Watson . 87 Squadron (d.28th Nov 1940)
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AH Watson . British Army 3rd Hussars AH Watson served with the 3rd Hussars British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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PO. Albert William Watson OBE.. Royal Navy HMS Bridgewater from Machen My step-father joined the Navy as a lad of 15 and served on HMS Gangees until 1932. I understand he was on submarines for a while. He served on various ships including: HMS Malaya, HMS Drake, HMS Osprey, HMS Bridgewater, HMS PresidentIV, HMS Woolston (Mallard), HMS Pyramus, HMS Attack.
He received the OBE in 1941 but he never revealed why he was awarded it. He rose through the ranks and was made a Petty Officer on 29th of June 1943 and was released on this rank on 20th of December 1945.
Until his death 16 years ago he was a member of the Gangees Association and regularly went to meetings. At his funeral the Gangees Association attended and the flag bearers all lowered their standards.
I am lucky to still have his service records and a copy of the London Gazette dated 4th of March 1941 announcing the awards in which he is included.
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LAC. Alec Frederick Watson . Royal Air Force 83 Squadron from Reading, Berkshire Alec Watson served with 83 Squadron at RAF Wyton and RAF Coningsby.
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Pte. Alexander Watson . British Army 4th Btn. Seaforth Highlanders (d.4th June 1940) Pte. Watson is buried in Mareuil-Caubert Communal Cemetery, Plot 1 Row D Grave 3.
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Alfred "Taff" Watson . Royal Navy SS Anselm from Friars Road, Lundwood, Barnsley My grandad, Mr Alfred Watson, Taff as he was known at sea , was the Anslem when it was sunk and survived for 18 days in a lifeboat without any food or water. He hardly spoke about this as it upset him deeply although there was an article in the Barnsley Chronicle which gave some information on the torment they all went through. If any one has any information or pictures of the SS Anselm or of my grandfather please contact me I would be ever grateful.
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Alfred "Taff" Watson . Royal Navy SS Anselm from Barnsley, Yorkshire. My granddad Alfred Watson was aboard the SS Anselm on the 5th of July 1941 when it was hit by German U-boat U-96. If anyone has any pictures or story's I would love to hear from you.
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Pte. Alfred William Watson . British Army 7th Btn. Norfolk Rgt. (d.8th July 1944) My grandfather, Pte Alfred Watson, was killed in action on 8th July 1944 while serving with the 7th Btn Norfolk Regiment.
Update
He is buried in Row J12 Cambes-en-Plaine War Cemetery.
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AW Watson . British Army 8th Armoured Brigade, Headquarters Sqd Royal Armoured Corps AW Watson served with the 8th Armoured Brigade, Headquarters Sqd Royal Armoured Corps British Army. I have his unissued dogtags, made in preparation for deployment to the Far East and would love to get them home to his family. I am happy to cover all costs. If you are a family member or can put me in touch with them please get in touch. Update: The Wartime Memories Project is no longer in contact with Dan , his website, facebook page and email have all ceased to function. But if you can add any details about the person listed, please use the add to record link below.
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