Joseph Watson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	30 Apr 1878
Place of Birth	Croglin, Cumberland, Wales
Death	8 Oct 1962, aged 84
Place of Death	Rivervale, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	39 years, 6 months
Description	5'10" (1.78m) tall; weight 164 lbs (74.4 kg); dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.
Occupation	farmer
Religion	Church of England
Address	Armadale, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife Mrs Clara Watson
Military Information
Reg Number	52186
Date of Enlistment	5 Nov 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	Western Australian Reinforcement 1; allotted to 28th Battalion / 7th Brigade, 2nd Division
Date of Embarkation	8 May 1918 - 7 Jun 1918 Albany to Port Suez
Date of Embarkation	3 Jul 1918 - 16 Jul 1918 Alexandria to Southampton
Ship Embarked On Both Legs	SS Port Darwin
Date of Return	12 Jul 1919 - 16 Aug 1919
Ship Returned On	SS City of Exeter
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Armadale (Armadale panel)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had previous service with the Coldstream Guards in the UK. His address on enlistment is Kondinin, but gave Armadale as his permanent address. Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 Jull street, Armadale, farm manager.

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 5 Nov 1917, and was allocated to the 1st General Service reinforcement draft.

On arrival in England joined the 5th Training Battalion in Fovant where on 13 July he was allocated to the 28th Battalion.

Proceeded overseas to France via Dover on 4 Oct 1918 and on the 10th was allocated to the 28th Battalion, before being detached to 2nd Division Train as a Horse Driver in Jan 1919. Had leave in England from 1 - 18 Apr 1919 before rejoining the Australian Army Service Corp.

On 23 Apr 1919 he was convicted of neglecting to carry out the instructions of a superior officer - received 14 days confined to barracks and one day Field Punishment No 2.

On 31 May 1919 Joseph left France for England and returned to Australia.

Discharged at 5th Military District on 1 Sep 1919.

Post War

Electoral Roll entries - 1925 - 1958 Kondinin, farmer; In 1943 his son Joseph Jnr appears on the rolls for first time. In June 1961 (letter to Military Records) he was living at 113 Fitzroy road Rivervale, Western Australia.