Joseph Watson
From Our Contribution
 | |
| 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 ; 164 lbs 74.389 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 | 3 Jul 1918 ‒ 16 Jul 1918 |
| Ship Embarked On | SS Port Darwin Alexandria to Southampton |
| Date of Return | 12 Jul 1919 ‒ 16 Aug 1919 |
| Ship Returned On | SS City of Exeter |
| Fate | Returned to Australia |
| Monument |
Armadale War Memorial (Armadale panel) Armadale and Districts Roll of Honour |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Pre War
Had previous service with the Coldstream Guards in the UK. His address on enlistment was Kondinin, but gave Armadale as his permanent address.
Electoral Roll entries - 1916 - 1917 Jull street, Armadale, farm manager.
War Service
Joseph entered Blackboy Hill camp on 5 Nov 1917, and was allocated to the 1st General Service reinforcement draft on 29 Apr 1918. He departed Albany for Southampton on 8 May 1918 aboard SS Port Darwin, via Egypt where he spent from 7 Jun until 2 July waiting to re-board his ship. On arrival in England Joseph joined the 5th Training Battalion in Fovant where he was allocated to the 28th Battalion reinforcements.
Proceeded overseas to France via Dover on 4 Oct 1918 and on the 10 October he was allocated to the 28th Battalion, before being detached to 2nd Division Train as a Horse Driver in Jan 1919. Joseph enjoyed some 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 for which he 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 where he was discharged by the 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.
Notes