Archibald Watson

Personal Information
Date of Birth	17 Apr 1889
Place of Birth	Dumbarton, Scotland
Death	unknown
Place of Death	Australia
Age at Enlistment	28 years, 3 months
Description	5'3" (1.60m) tall; weight 124 lbs (56.2kg); fair complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair.
Occupation	labourer
Religion	Presbyterian
Address	Station House, Serpentine, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr Archibald Watson
Military Information
Reg Number	3946
Date of Enlistment	9 Jul 1917
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	51st Battalion, 11th Reinforcements / 13th Brigade, 4th Division
Date of Embarkation	30 Oct 1917 - 27 Dec 1917
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A60 Aeneas
Date of Return	9 Oct 1918
Ship Returned On	SS Leicestershire
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Serpentine
Medals	British War Medal

Pre War

Previously reject due to defective vision in left eye. Also required extensive dental treatment.

War Service

Entered Blackboy Hill camp on 9 Jul 1917 and was allocated to the 11th reinforcement draft for the 51st Battalion a week later. Archibald was transferred to Victoria for specialist training at some point as his departure point from Australia was Melbourne.

During the voyage to England he was admitted to the ship's hospital from 5 - 9 Dec 1917 with tonsillitis.

On arrival in Devonport, England he was sent first to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford, and then on 11 Apr 1918 he was transferred to the 12th Training Battalion. It appears that he did not go to France, and was never taken on strength by the 51st Battalion.

Married in the UK on 28 Jun 1918 to Elizabeth Young, a 28 years old Spinster Yarn Worker, of 439 Main street, Bonhill, Scotland.

On 30 Nov 1918 he was transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth to prepare for an early return to Australia due to "Contractive fingers right hand".

Archie was discharged by the 5th Military District on 15 Feb 1919.

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial