William Arthur Watts

Submitted by Mt Kembla Minin... on Thu, 22/10/2015 - 13:06

First Name:

William

Middle Name:

Arthur

Last Name:

Watts

Mother's Name:

Minnie Watts nee Chaseling

Father's Name:

Josiah Watts

Date Enlisted:

Wednesday, April 12, 1916

Rank at Enlistment:

Private

Rank at Discharge:

Private

Unit:

45th Battalion

Service:

Infantry

Awards:

British War Medal

Victory Medal

Date of Death:

Tuesday, January 30, 1917

Place of Death:

France

Cause of Death:

Wounds received in action

Details:

William Watts (Service No 2748) was born at Terara near Nowra, N.S.W. in 1893. William enlisted in nearby Kiama with his brother Warren (Service No 2749). He was 22 years old, single, and worked as a shop assistant.

William embarked from Sydney on board HMAT A40 Ceramic with 6th Reinforcements, 45th battalion, on 7th October 1916. The troops arrived in England on 21st November 1916 and William joined his Battalion in France on 18th January 1917. Two days later, William was wounded and was evacuated to 36th Casualty Clearing Station for treatment of shrapnel wounds to his chest.

William died from his wounds 10 days later on 30th January 1917.

He is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L'Abbe, France: Plot V, Row G, Grave 28, and commemorated in Nowra Cemetery, N.S.W.

William's brother Warren was killed in action a few months later.

Sources:

NAA: B2455, WATTS WILLIAM ARTHUR