The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private R H Watkinson

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Inscription - "EVER IN OUR THOUGHTS"

Photograph by "LESUEUR Dominique"

Private Robert Henry WATKINSON, G/19570, 7th Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, died of wounds, 6 General Hospital, Rouen,  France, 28th October 1917, age 22.

Born Poolbrook, Derbyshire, son of Robert and Emily Watkinson, of 14, Highfield Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

12th February 1895, Staveley, Derbyshire, baptism of Robert Henry Watkinson, son of Robert, (miner), and Emily Watkinson of Polebrook.

1911 Census - 6 Highfield Terrace, Kent Lane, Chesterfield, Derbyshire - Robert Watkinson, head, age 52, married, miner, coal, hewer, worker, born Duckmanton, Derbyshire; Emiley Watkinson, wife, age 49, married 29 years, 7 children, all still alive, born Brampton, Derbyshire; Ada Watkinson, daughter, age 23, single, assisting at home, born Grassmoor, Derbyshire; Thomas Watkinson, son, age 18, single, Railway wagon repairer, worker, born Whittington, Derbyshire; Robert Henry Watkinson, son, age 16, single, gardener, nurseryman, worker, born Staveley, Derbyshire; Florance Watkinson, daughter, age 12, school, born Old Whittington, Derbyshire; Bertha Jessie Watkinson, daughter, age 10, school, born Whittington, Derbyshire; George Edward Watkinson, son, age 8, school, born Whittington, Derbyshire; Sydney Watkinson, son, age 4, born Whittington, Derbyshire.

Enlisted Staveley, Derbyshire, age 20 years, 335 days, height 5ft 4 inches, weight 115lbs.  Resided 14, Highfield Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. Formerly labourer / blacksmiths stoker.

Home 10th December 1915 to 25th June 1917; BEF 26th June 1917 to 28th October 1917.

10th December 1915, enlisted Royal Field Artillery; 11th December 1915, to Army Reserve; 26th March 1917, mobilized & posted Chesterfield, "J" Depot, Sherwood Foresters, Service No.82608; 26th March 1917, posted 4th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters; 26th June 1917, posted BEF & 10th Battalion Sherwood Foresters; 27th June 1917, Folkestone, embarked; 27th June 1917, Boulogne, disembarked; 31st July 1917, transferred to Royal West Kent Regiment; 31st July 1917, posted 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 13th October 1917, 12 Casualty Clearing Station, gun shot wound, head.

17th October 1919, Statement of Relatives - Widow, none; Children, none; Father, Robert Watkinson, 14, Highfield Road, Chesterfield; Mother, Emily Watkinson, 14, Highfield Road, Chesterfield; Brothers - unable to read; Sisters - unable to read.

Buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, P. III. Q. 2A., Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France.