1914-15 Star, Lance Sergeant John Watson, 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment Born around the 30th September 1871 in Bethnal Green, Middlesex, as a Roman Catholic. He originally served in the Middlesex Regiment, enlisting on the 31st of March, 1891. He served in the 2nd Middlesex at home from the 31st of March, 1891, to the 21st February, 1892. He was then posted to India, serving from the 22nd of February, 1892, to the 2nd of March, 1899. Recalled to the Army on the 11th of November, 1899 and posted from the 13th of November as part of the 2nd Middlesex. He disembarked in South Africa on the 2nd of December 1899 and served there until the 26th of August 1902. He was then on Home Service duty from the 27th August 1902 until being discharged on the 30th of March, 1903 He re-enlisted and was attested on the 9th of September 1914 in the 13th (Service) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. Moved to the South Downs and went to billets in Hove in December 1914 and appointed (Paid) Lance Corporal on the 8th of February 1915. He would’ve then moved billets to Shoreham in May 1915 and Pirbright in June. He disembarked in Boulogne, France, as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) on the 1st of September, 1915. He was then promoted to Corporal on the 30th of October, 1915, and then appointed to Lance Sergeant on the 4th of July 1916. In the following days, either the 5th or 6th of July, he was severely wounded in the arm and back, likely during heavy shelling on Wytschaete, Belgium, and shipped home from France on the 10th of July, 1916, resuming service at home from the 19th of July 1916. He would join the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Middlesex Regiment on the 1st of September, 1916, a depot/training unit in Chatham as part of the Thames & Medway Garrison. He was appointed (Paid) Lance Sergeant on the 3rd of November, 1917. He would be made a reservist from the 14th of February, 1919 and discharged on the 31st of March, 1920. He would die of myocarditis on the 17th of June, 1940, at the age of 68 Impressed: G-1197 / L.SJT. J. WATSON. / MIDD’X R. Condition: Very good
