Private Ernest Alfred WATTS, G/5801,  6th  Battalion  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death presumed on or after, 8th October 1915, age 38.

Born Ixworth, Suffolk, son of  S. Watts.

16th October 1897, Northfleet, married Kate Edith Pollard, 28, Tooley Street, Northfleet, Kent.

Children - Eva Caroline Watts, born 9th May 1899, Northfleet; Lottie Maud Watts, born 23rd June 1900, Northfleet; Ernest Alfred Watts, born 5th January 1903, Northfleet; Honor Violet Watts, born 14th October 1904, West Thurrock; Arthuc Alex Watts, born 4th April 1906, West Thurrock; Frederick Charles Watts, born 12th August 1907, West Thurrock; Harry Watts, born 1909, West Thurrock.

1911 Census - 83 Shepherd Street, Northfleet, Kent - Ernest Watts, head, age 34, married, dry cooper, Cement Manufacturing, worker, born Ixworth, Suffolk; Kate Watts, wife, age 34, married 13 years, 8 children, 7 still alive, born Ipswich, Suffolk; Eva Watts, daughter, age 11, school, born Northfleet, Kent; Lottie Watts, daughter, age 10, school, born Northfleet, Kent; Ernest Watts, son, age 8, born Northfleet, Kent; Honor Watts, daughter, age 6, born West Thurrock, Essex; Arthur Watts, son, age 5, born West Thurrock, Essex; Frederick Watts, son, age 3, born West Thurrock, Essex; Harry Watts, son, age 2, born West Thurrock, Essex.

Previously served with Middlesex Yeomanry.

Enlisted  Gravesend, Kent, age 38 years & 171 days, height 5ft ?? inches.   Resided 28 Tooley Street, Northfleet, Kent. Formerly cooper.

Home, 23rd February 1915 to 14th June 1915; BEF, 15th June 1915 to 8th October 1915.

23rd February 1915, enlisted; 26th February 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 3rd March 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 15th June 1915, posted BEF & 6th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 23rd August 1915, 38 Field Ambulance, gun shot wound back hand & thumb; 24th August 1915, transferred to Baileul; 28th August 1915, rejoined Battalion.; 8th October 1915, posted missing.

2nd August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Kate Edith Watts, 8, Tooley Street, Northfleet; Children, Eva Caroline Watts: Lottie Maud Watts; Ernest Alfred Watts;  Honor Violet Watts; Arthuc Alec Watts;  Frederick Charles Watts;  Harry Watts. 7 children; Father, none; Mother, none; Brothers - 5 Brothers, do not now address; Sisters - 4 sisters - do not now address; Grandparents, none; Nephews/Nieces, none; Uncles/Aunts, none.

Commemorated  Loos Memorial, Panel 95 to 97., Pas de Calais, France.

This page was last updated on 01-Mar-2023.

Copyright © 2008 Janet & Richard Mason