Charles Leonard WATSON

Regimental number44044
Date of birth5 August 1890
Place of birthWest Melton
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationFarmer
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation26.4
Height5' 8.5"
Weight135 lbs
Next of kinFather, George Watson, West Melton, Canterbury
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date13 December 1916
Place of enlistmentChristchurch
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 23rd Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT Corinthic on 2 April 1917
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records27
Place of burialPoelcapelle British Cemetery (Plot VIIIA, Row C, Grave No 10), nr Ieper, Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: George (b. England) and Charlotte Catherine (b. New Zealand) Watson, Sandy Knolls, Canterbury
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 2 April 1917; tried by Field General Court Martial, at sea, 10 April 1917 (charge not recorded on file): found guilty, awarded 14 days' confinement; disembarked Devonport, England, 10 June 1917, and marched into Sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 6 July 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, in the field, 25 July 1917.

Killed in action, 12 October 1917.

Buried Passchendaele (Reference D.9.88) by Rev J.A. Lush, attached to 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment; grave subsequently lost.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 3: Roll 57, p. 13
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22016719

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