Watson Samuel Meredith 2/Lt

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Surname: Watson;

Forename(s): Samuel Meredith;

Initials: SM;

Rank: 2/Lt;

Previous Regiment: Leins Regt;

Date of transfer to MGC: 22-Nov-1915;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 64 Coy;

Date abroad: 24-Feb-1916;

Theatre of War: 1;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 01-Jul-1916;

Other Data: S M Watson, Second Lieutenant, 64th, Machine Gun Corps, 1st July 1916. Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle, Somme, France, VII. D. 4.

64 MGC attd from 5 Leinster Regt
Samuel Meredith Watson was born on 28 April 1885 at the High St., Steyning, Sussex the fourth son of William Thomas Watson (builder) and Martha Melior Watson (formerly Vickress). At the time of the war his parents were living at Newbridge House, Steyning. Samuel had been living in Argentina since about 1895 and was educated at St Georges College, Buenos Aires. An engineer by profession he worked for 5 years on the Buenos Aires and Pacific Railway and later in the Buenos Aires and Southern Railway as an electrical engineer. There is evidence to suggest that he returned to his mother country for a period as he claimed to have served with the 4th Hampshire Volunteers for three years. In early November 1914 Watson returned to the UK and enlisted in 2 Royal Sussex Regt on 18 November. He was appointed L/Cpl on 5 December and at his own request reverted to a Private two weeks later. On 22 February 1915 he transferred to ‘E’ Company 19 Royal Fusiliers and on 10 April was again appointed to L/Cpl. On 1 May 1915 Samuel filled in application forms for a commission giving his address for correspondence as 19 Royal Fusiliers, Woodcote Park, Epsom, his occupation as mechanical engineer, height 5' 6", weight 152lbs. He was discharged to commission in 5 Leinster Regt 18 days later and became a machine gun officer. It is known that he travelled from Fermoy, Ireland to Grantham on 23 November 1915 presumably for training with the Machine Gun Corps. He did not arrive in France until 24 February 1916 when he embarked on the SS Margarita. On the eve of his death Samuel wrote to his mother :
My darling Mother
Just a hurried line to let you know I am going on alright. I hope you are keeping fit as I have not heard from you for a good while now but as the postal arrangements are somewhat dislocated just now. I am trying not to let it worry me.
I had a stroke of bad luck a couple of days ago. A large shell landed in the room where I was billeted fortunately I was not there at the time or I should not be writing this and completely wrecked the whole place and destroyed all my kit leaving me with what I stand up in. Of course I shall get compensation for my loss eventually.
Don’t send me anything until you hear from me again. We attack the Bosche tomorrow and as I am going forward with the first attacking Battalion there is a possibility of something happening to me. But do not worry about me as I am in God’s hands though I am afraid. He does not feel very real to me.
I have quite a fair sum of money at Cox’s which you are to have after paying any calls that may be made on it.
Goodbye now dear mother and father and all dear ones. I hope to be able to write to you again in a day or so.
Your very loving boy
Sam

War Diary of 64 Coy states that he was killed in "nomanland" before reaching the German lines.
Sam was in fact killed the next day on 1 July and was originally buried about 1,000 yards NW of Fricourt but his body was later re-interred in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la Boisselle, Plot VII, Row D, Grave 4. In his will he left £1,486 16s 7d. His mother died suddenly on 31 December 1916 only 6 months after the death of her son. [ADD INFO ABOUT HIS SIBLINGS BELOW AND THE FACT THAT HIS BROTHER WAS KIA](Officers Papers - PRO)

Details from 1891 Census of Steyning, showing all children:
Station Road
William Thomas Watson 44 Builder b. Rutland Oakham
Martha Melior 44 b. London, Lambeth
John Watson 12 b. Bramber
Mary Watson 10 b. Bramber
Walter Benjamin Watson 9 b. Bramber
William Watson 8 b. Steyning
Rebecca T. Watson 7 b. Steyning
Samuel Watson 5 b. Steyning
Esther WatsoN 1 b. Steyning

Details from 1901 Census of Steyning RG13/0947
Station Road
William Thomas Watson 52 Builder [Employer] At home b. Rutland, Oakham
Martha M Watson 54 b. Lambeth
Walter B. Watson 19 Painter and Decorator b. Bramber
Rebecca K. 17
Samuel 15
Esther 11
Three children born in Steyning
Sussex Daily News
20th July 1916 –– p. 6
STEYNING OFFICER’’S DEATH
WELL KNOWN FAMILY’’S DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT
The tragedy of the war is coming home to every family as the toll is becoming greater day by day. One well-known Steyning family in particular has been stricken. Some time ago the death was reported of Sergeant W. B. Watson, Royal Sussex Regiment, following a wound sustained at the Dardanelles. Now comes the sad tidings that a younger brother of his, Second Lieutenant Samuel Meredith Watson, fourth son of Mr and Mrs W. T. Watson, Newbridge, Steyning, has been killed in the great British advance at the Somme. He was in the machine gun corps, and he fell gallantly in action on the 1st July. It was the first day of the momentous forward movement, and he was struck down while going forward with one of the first attacking battalions to carry the German trenches. The sad news was conveyed to the family by a letter from his captain, who said;
‘‘I deeply regret to inform you of the death of your son on the 1st July……..I had every confidence in him as a machine gun officer, and I cannot express the sorrow I feel in losing him, both as an officer and friend.””

GOOD CRICKETER AND FOOTBALLER
Second Lieutenant Watson, who was 31 years of age and single, at one time played both football and cricket for Steyning, and was a very fine exponent of these games, particularly the summer pastime. Afterwards also he developed a good game at golf. An engineer by profession he went to the Argentine several years ago and was on the Buenos Ayres and Pacific Railway for five years and afterwards on the Buenos Ayres and Southern Railway as electrical engineer. While there he played cricket a good deal for the Hurlingham Club. Coming home, he joined the Public Schools’’ Battalion at the outbreak of the war and got his commission as machine gun officer in the Leinster Regiment. Thence he was transferred to the machine gun corps, and had been in the firing line since about the 1st February of this year. His eldest brother, John, is a Lance-Corporal in the Royal Fusiliers, and is in France at the present time. Another brother, William, is in a munitions works in America. Two sisters, Miss Watson and Miss R. T. Watson, have been Army nurses since the war began, while another sister, Miss E. Watson, is a Red Cross nurse.;

Other Notes: WATSON, Second Lieutenant, S M, 64th. Machine Gun Corps. 1st July 1916. VII. D. 4. Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers-la-Boisselle - Somme, France.;

END OF RECORD.

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