| Regimental number | 9/96 |
| Date of birth | |
| Place of birth | Port Chalmers |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Port Chalmers |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 26 |
| Height | 5' 5.5" |
| Weight | 123 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, John Watson, Port Chalmers |
| Previous military service | Served for 4 years in Naval Forces, Port Chalmers; not serving in any military unit at time of NZEF enlistment. |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Dunedin |
| Rank on embarkation | Trooper |
| Enlistment status | Volunteer |
| Unit name | New Zealand Expeditionary Force, Main Body, Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Wellington on |
| Three squadrons of the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment left New Zealand on board 'Hawke's Bay', and one squadron on board 'Verdala'. From the Nominal Roll it is not possible to determine on which ship an individual embarked. | |
| Final rank | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Final unit | 1st Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 30 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | Tyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 3), Belgium |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: John and Helen Watson, 'Bellevue', Port Chalmers, Dunedin |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Wounded in action; admitted to Military Hospital, Whitchurch, Cardiff, Wales, 23 September 1915. Appointed Temporary Corporal, 4 March 1916. Transferred to Pioneer Bn, 14 March 1916. Appointed Company Bomber (rank of Corporal), 30 July 1916. Promoted Sergeant, 11 November 1916. Nominated by GOC NZEF for a commission in the Infantry, 30 April 1917. Appointed 2nd Lieutenant supernumerary to establishment, 2 June 1917. Proceeded overseas to France, 12 July 1917. Killed in action, 12 October 1917. War service: 3 years 62 days (of which 1158 days were abroad) Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Nominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Mounted Rifles/Main Body |
| Sources | Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22024360, File 22016858 |