244603 Pte. Thomas Henry Watts British Army 2nd Btn. Yorkshire Regiment from:Stockton On Tees My grandfather, Thomas Watts, was born in Thornaby, Stockton On Tees in 1894 and was of mixed Welsh and English parentage. On leaving school he worked in the shipyards and also the iron foundries. It was a hard life with little reward. In July 1913, at the age of 19, he enlisted in the army, perhaps seeing it as a way to better his lot in life. Work was getting scarcer at that point in the North East of England and joining the army would at least ensure shelter and food. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, then known as Alexandra, Princess of Wales Own Yorkshire Regiment. He saw active service in France between 1914 and 1917. In April 1917 he suffered gunshot wounds and was sent to the pioneering 1st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge for treatment. He was considered unfit for further war service and was discharged from the army in July 1917. As well as gunshot wounds he was also exposed to toxic gas. He suffered thereafter with lung and heart problems and died from related disease in 1928 at the age of 34.
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