John Harold Watson

1/2nd Bn Leicestershire Regiment.John Harold Watson joined the army in 1915. He died of wounds on 3 October 1918 and is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy (grave ref. III.C.8).CWGC - Vadencourt British Cemetery (extract): 'Maissemy passed into British hands in 1917. It was captured by the enemy on the 21st March 1918, in spite of a strong resistance by the 24th Division and the 2/4th Royal Berks, and retaken by the 1st Division on the following 15th September. At the beginning of October, the IX Corps Main Dressing Station was at Vadencourt (now Vadancourt). Vadencourt British Cemetery (called at first Vadencourt New British Cemetery) was begun in August 1917, by fighting units, and used until March 1918. In October and November 1918, it was used by the 5th, 47th and 61st Casualty Clearing Stations (at Bihecourt, on the road to Vermand) as well as by Field Ambulances. These original graves are in Plots I-III. After the Armistice these plots were enlarged, and Plots IV and V made, by the concentration of graves from the surrounding battlefields and from a few small burial grounds [listed].'

Nottingham Evening Post, 21 October 1918: 'Roll of Honour. Died of Wounds. Second Lieutenant JH Watson, Leicestershire Regiment, who died of wounds October 3rd, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Watson of 48 Sherwin Street, Nottingham. He was 28 years old and was educated at Leicester. He joined the army in early 1915 and had served 3½ years in France.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour., 21 October 1918: 'Watson. Died of wounds October 3rd, Second Lieutenant JH Watson, Leicester Regiment. Mother, father, sisters, brothers.'