Rosewall James WATSON

Regimental number8/2493
Date of birth29 December 1895
Place of birthOamaru
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationBarman
AddressAln Street, Oamaru
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20.6
Height5' 9"
Next of kinFather, R H Watson, Aln Street, Oamaru
Previous military serviceServed in 10th Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date1 May 1915
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationPrivate
Enlistment statusVolunteer
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Battalion
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 24 Maunganui on 13 June 1915
Final rankPrivate
Final unit2nd Battalion, Otago Infantry Regiment
FateKilled in Action 12 October 1917
Age at death from cemetery records22
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsTyne Cot Memorial (New Zealand Apse, Panel 3), Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Robert Harry and Mary Elizabeth Watson, 53 Douglas Street, St Kilda, Dunedin. Native of Oamaru
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Joined unit at Anzac, 9 August 1915.

Wounded in action, 9 August 1915 (gun shot wound, mouth); transferred by HS 'Dongala' to Egypt, and admitted to 19th General Hospital, Alexandria, 14 August 1915; transferred to England, 15 September 1915, and admitted to No 2 Western General Hospital, Manchester, 24 September 1915; discharged to NZ Base Depot, Greytowers, 28 December 1915.

Found guilty, 31 March 1916, of being absent without leave, 30 March 1916: forfeited 1 day's pay under Royal Warrant.

Admitted to Depot Hospital, Greytowers, 8 April 1916 (venereal disease).

Found guilty, Greytowers, of (1) obscene language to an NCO; (2) striking an NCO: awarded 14 days' detention.

Taken on strength, NZ Command Depot, Codford, 12 July 1916.

Found guilty, 26 September 1916, of being absent without leave, 23-25 September 1916: forfeited 3 days' pay under Royal Warrant.

Admitted to NZ Convalescent Hospital Venereal Ward, Hornchurch, 2 October 1916; discharged, 10 November 1916; attached on strength of NZ Command Depot, Codford, 14 November 1916.

Joined 3rd Reserve Bn, Sling Camp, 5 December 1916.

Proceeded overseas to France, 11 February 1917; joined 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment, in the field, 22 February 1917, and posted to 4th Company.

Found guilty by Field General Court Martial, 4 October 1917, of when on Active Service an act to the prejudice of good order and Military discipline in that in the field on 3 October 1917, while cleaning his rifle, negligently discharged a round, thereby wounding 13977 Pte W.B. Ogilvie, 27443 Pte W.D. Brown, and 21972 Pte J. Burt of 2nd Bn, Otago Infantry Regiment: awarded 3 months' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeited balance of all ordinary pay for 3 months.

Killed in action, 12 October 1917.

War service: 2 years 165 days (of which 853 days were abroad)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Miscellaneous detailsNominal Roll Vol. 1: Otago Infantry Batln/Fifth. Condition of teeth: 'Defective'.
SourcesArchives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22024360, File 22016914