'Operations, between Messines and Warneton, 14th and 15th June 1917. This man is a Battalion Signaller. He laid the line to Battalion Headquarters under very heavy shell fire and although the wire was destroyed by enemy shell fire on at least twenty occasions, this gallant man went out and repaired it, working practically continuously under terrific shell fire for 48 hours.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 16 August 1917

Regimental number	24257
Date of birth	13 September 1894
Place of birth	Woodside, North Canterbury
Religion	Methodist
Occupation	Motor mechanic
Address	Box 21, Oxford, North Canterbury
Marital status	Single
Height	5' 11.5"
Weight	154 lbs
Next of kin	Father, Lancelot Watson, Box 21, Oxford, North Canterbury
Previous military service	Served in C Company, 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment.
Enlistment date	10 February 1916
Rank on embarkation	Lance Corporal
Enlistment status	Volunteer
Unit name	New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 13th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, C Company
Embarkation details	Unit embarked from Wellington on 27 May 1916
	The infantry component of the 13th Reinforcements left New Zealand on board two ships, 'Willochra' and 'Tofua'. It is not possible from the Nominal Roll to determine on which ship an individual embarked.
Medals	Military Medal 'Operations, between Messines and Warneton, 14th and 15th June 1917. This man is a Battalion Signaller. He laid the line to Battalion Headquarters under very heavy shell fire and although the wire was destroyed by enemy shell fire on at least twenty occasions, this gallant man went out and repaired it, working practically continuously under terrific shell fire for 48 hours.' Source: London Gazette Date: 16 August 1917
Discharge date	6 June 1919
Other details	War service: Western Front Embarked Wellington, 30 May 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 26 July 1916 and marched in to Sling Camp. Marched out from Sling Camp and proceeded overseas to France, 30 October 1916; marched in to NZ Base Depot, Etaples, 1 November 1916. Joined, 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, in the field, 22 November 1916. Admitted to No 15 Casualty Clearing Station, 1 March 1917 (mumps); transferred to No 7 General Hospital, St Omer, 9 March 1917; discharged to duty, 28 March 1917; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 30 March 1917. Awarded Military Medal for acts of gallantry in the field, 27 June 1917. Detached to ANZAC Signal School, 3 July 1917; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 26 July 1917. Detached to Signal School, 27 August 1917; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 30 August 1917. On leave to United Kingdom, 30 October 1917; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 15 November 1917. Detached to Corps Signal School, 16 November 1917; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 15 December 1917. Appointed Lance Corporal, 5 May 1918. Detached to III Army Rest Camp, 31 May 1918; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 15 July 1918. On leave to Paris, 18 August 1918; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 31 August 1918. On leave to United Kingdom, 11 October 1918; rejoined 2nd Bn, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 31 October 1918. Detached to United Kingdom, 28 January 1919; marched in to Canterbury PD, 3 February 1919. Found guilty, 24 February 1919, of being absent without leave from 2330 hours, 21 February 1919, until 1830 hours, 22 February 1919; reprimanded and forfeited 1 day?s pay by Royal Warrant. Commenced return to New Zealand from Liverpool on board SS ?Kia Ora?, 27 March 1919; disembarked New Zealand, 10 May 1919; discharged, 6 June 1919. Total war service: 3 years 119 days (of which 2 years 348 days were abroad). Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Sources	Nominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 33, p. 10 Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805 File 22016944