The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private L E Watson

Private Leslie Ernest WATSON, G/11422, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death presumed on or after, 22nd July 1916, age 20.

Born Paddington, London, SW, son of Abraham William and Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane, Queen's Park, London.

10th May 1903, St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, baptism of Leslie Ernest Watson, son of Abraham William, (house decorator), and Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane.

10th May 1903, St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, baptism of Thomas William Watson, son of Abraham William, (house decorator), and Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane.

10th May 1903, St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, baptism of Charles Henry Watson, son of Abraham William, (house decorator), and Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane.

10th May 1903, St John the Evangelist, Kensal Green, Westminster, baptism of Hilda Edith Lilian Watson, daughter of Abraham William, (house decorator), and Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane.

1911 Census - 153, Kilburn Lane, NW - Abraham William Watson, head, age 49, married, house painter, worker, born Hampstead; Charlotte Martha Watson, wife, age 43, married 16 years, 4 children, all still alive, born Marylebone; Leslie Ernest Watson, son, age 14, errand boy, worker, born Paddington; Charles Henry Watson, son, age 12, school, born Paddington; Hilda Edith Lilian Watson, daughter, age 10, school, born Willesden.

Enlisted Whitehall, London, SW, age 19 years 7 months, height 5ft 8 inches, weight 124lbs. Resided 153, Kilburn Lane, West Kilburn, London, NW. Formerly greengrocer.

Home, 29th November 1915 to 18th May 1916; BEF, 19th May 1916 to 22nd July 1916.

29th November 1915, enlisted; 1st December 1915, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 4th December 1915, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 12th January 1916, Chatham, whilst on active service, having a rusty rifle on 8.45 parade, 5 days confined to Barracks; 24th January 1916, Chatham, whilst on active service, absent from church parade, 9.30am, 5 days confined to Barracks; 5th March 1916, Chatham, whilst on active service, absent from church parade, 3 days confined to Barracks; 19th May 1916, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 22nd July 1916, posted missing.

27th August 1919, Statement of Relatives - Father, Abraham William Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane, W10; Mother, Charlotte Martha Watson, 153, Kilburn Lane, W10; Brothers - Charles Henry Watson, age 20, 153, Kilburn Lane, W10; Sisters - Hilda Edith Lilian Watson, age 19, 153, Kilburn Lane, W10.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.

One of three brothers who served, two of whom fell.

Photograph by "Fabian Langer"

Private Thomas William Watson, 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, Service No.L/14591, died 1st February 1915, aged 19. Buried Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kasselm IV.A.2. Germany.

This page was last updated on 31-May-2025.