Clarence Victor Watson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	unknown 1898
Place of Birth	Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Death	13 Oct 1961, aged 63
Place of Death	Fremantle, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	18 years old
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall; 127 lbs (57.6m); fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	grocer's assistant
Religion	Church of England
Address	Eighth avenue, Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother Mrs Hannah Elizabeth Watson
Military Information
Reg Number	284
Date of Enlistment	24 Feb 1916
Rank	Corporal
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, B Company, transferred to 51st Battalion / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	6 Jun 1916 - 26 Jul 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A29 Suevic
Date of Return	15 Jan 1919 - 20 Feb 1919
Ship Returned On	SS City of Exeter
Fate	Wounded in Action 2 Apr 1917 at Noreuil Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale (West Armadale) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

Initially allocated on 3 Mar 1916 to B Company of the 44th Battalion in Claremont camp, he sailed with them to England. Records show that while he embarked on 31 May 1916, the ship didn't sail until 6 Jun 1916.

After completing his training in England with the 13th Training Battalion he proceeded to France on 8 Oct 1916, initially to reinforce the 11th Battalion, but on 20 Oct 1916 he was transferred to the 51st Battalion, joining their reserve group at Reninghelst 10 kms south west of Ypres.

Clarence served with the Lewis Gun Section of A Company. During the night of 1 Apr 1917, A, B, and D Companies of the 51st Battalion moved into position for an attack on Noreuil, with all in readiness by 3:40am on the 2nd.

From the description of the battle in the unit's War Diary, it is likely that Clarence's wound was caused during either the initial advance when 60 casualties were caused by enemy machine guns in the villages of Noreuil and Longatte, or later when the objective had been reached, but the Australians had then needed to retire under machine gun and rifle fire to positions more able to be held against counter attack.

Clarence's injury was a GSW to his left buttock. He was first treated by the 4th Australian Field Ambulance, before being admitted to the 11th Stationary Hospital in Rouen where he was assessed before returning to his unit via the 2nd Convalescent Depot. On 25 Apr 1917, Clarence rejoined his battalion and two months later on 28 Jun 1917 he was appointed Lance Corporal, and then on 20 Apr 1918 he was promoted to Corporal.

On 23 Aug 1917 he entered the 39th General Hospital in Le Havre with herpes, remaining with them until 16 September, and then again between 14 and 26 Nov 1917 with orchitis. On 22 Apr 1918 Clarence was admitted to hospital in France with an abscess on his jaw before being moved 26 Apr 1918 via HMHS Aberdonian to the Beaufort War Hospital in Bristol with an abscess on his right thigh.

Recovered, he was given leave from 21 May to 4 Jun 1918 in London, before reporting to No 1 Convalescent Depot in Sutton Veny. In July 1918 and Oct 1918 he had two brief stays in Bulford hospital with VD that had resulted from leave taken in London.

"... Went to the front in the 44th Battalion on the 6th June, 1916. Now serving with the Lewis Machine Gun section in the 51st battalion."

Casualty List 291 lists Clarence as Wounded

Post War

In 1932 Clarence married Winifred Mary Joslin in Fremantle. Winifred died 15 Aug 1997 aged 88 in Bentley.

Electoral Roll entries - 1921 - 1936 at 66 South street, grocer (with mother 1921 - 1931). Winifred lived at 30 South street, shop (?) at 66 South street. 1943 Clarence now shown at 30 South street; 1949 - 1972 only Winifred at 30 South street; 1977 - 1980 Winifred at 4/59 Waddell road, Bicton.

Notes

His father was William Harrington Edward Watson

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial