William James WATTS

Regimental number25657
Date of birth21 May 1895
Place of birthNapier
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationBlacksmith
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation20.7
Height5' 9"
Weight135 lbs
Next of kinFather, John Watts, Kennedy Road, Napier
Previous military serviceServed for 5 years in A Company, 9th Regiment, Territorial Force; still serving at time of NZEF enlistment.
Enlistment date30 May 1916
Place of enlistmentTrentham
Rank on embarkationRifleman
Unit nameNew Zealand Expeditionary Force, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 8th Reinforcements to 3rd Battalion, G Company
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Wellington on board HMNZT 65 Pakeha on 23 September 1916
Final rankRifleman
Final unit2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
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 No 7), Belgium
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: John and Theresa Watts, 9 Kennedy Road, Napier
Other details

War service: Western Front

Embarked Wellington, 23 September 1916; disembarked Devonport, England, 18 November 1916, and marched into Sling Camp.

Proceeded overseas to France, 7 January 1917; joined 2nd Bn, NZ Rifle Brigade, in the field, 5 February 1917, and posted to C Company.

Killed in action, 12 October 1917.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNominal Roll Vol. 2: Roll 41, p. 36
Archives New Zealand (Wellington), Agency AABK, Series 18805, File 22017137