G. J. Watts
Service no. S/1117
Private, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), 1st Battalion
Born in Westminster; enlisted in London
Killed in action on 23 April 1915, aged 34
CWGC: “Husband of Elizabeth J. Watts, of 75 Thorparch Road [this is an error, it is 95 Thorparch Road], Wandsworth Road, Lambeth, London.”
Remembered at Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Ypres, Belgium
When Watts, who was born in Westminster in 1881, attested on 12 October 1914, aged 34, he was working as an outside porter. He declared that he had previously served in the 2nd battalion of the Royal West Kents, and was discharged in 1905 at the end of his term. He was 5ft 5in, just under 8½st with a 36½in chest. He had blue eyes, dark brown hair and a fresh complexion, with ‘profuse’ tattooing on both forearms and calves. His physical development was judged to be ‘Good’. He joined his battalion on 4 January 1915, was appointed unpaid lance coproral on 12 February and and was posted missing on 23 April. He had served a total of 194 days. His widow Elizabeth was left to bring up three children, Rose Elizabeth (born 1906), Lilian Maud (1909) and Violet May (1911).
