Charles WATSON

Regimental number10/550
Date of birth12 December 1884
Place of birthWanganui
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
Address8 Hatrick Terrace, Wanganui
Marital statusSingle
Height5' 8"
Weight150 lbs
Next of kinSister, Mrs G Benson, 8 Hatrick Terrace, Wanganui
Previous military serviceIrish Rifles, Wanganui (resigned)
Enlistment date15 August 1914
Place of enlistmentWanganui
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Wellington Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 10 Arawa on 16 October 1914
Final rankPrivate
Final unitWellington Infantry Regiment
FateCommenced return to New Zealand 17 March 1917
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, England.

Embarked Wellington, 16 October 1914; disembarked Alexandria, Egypt, 3 December 1914.

Found guilty, Zeitoun Camp, 15 March 1915, of being in bed at 0600 hours: awarded 2 days' confined to barracks.

Embarked Alexandria with unit to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, Gallipoli Campaign, 12 April 1915.

Wounded in action, 8 August 1915; disembarked Malta, 16 August 1915, and admitted to St George's Hospital (septic bomb wound); transferred to St Andrew's Hospital, Malta, 18 August 1915 (rheumatic; enteric fever, severe); to No.5 Southern General Hospital, Portsmouth, England, 8 October 1915; discharged to furlough, 26 November 1915.

Marched into NZ Base Depot, Grey Towers, 14 January 1916.

Appointed cook, NZ Command Depot, Codford, 18 September 1916.

Relieved of cook appointment, 11 November 1916.

Appointed Cook, NZ Command Depot, Codford, 5 December 1916; relieved of cook appointment, 3 January 1917.

Commenced return to New Zealand from Devonport on board HMT 'Maunganui', 17 March 1917; disembarked New Zealand, 11 May 1917; discharged (no longer medical fit for active service), 20 July 1917.

Total war service: 2 years 310 days (of which 2 years 208 days were abroad).

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Wellington Infantry Batln/Main Body
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22016716