Bernard Watkins
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Two casualties of the Great War from one Worksop family were Herbert Watkins and his brother, Bernard, the sons of John and Annie Marie Watkins (née Day). John Watkins was born in Worksop in about 1842, and Annie Marie Day was born in Budby, Clumber Park, in about 1848. They were married in 1869 (reg. Worksop) and had nine children, one of whom died before 1911. All the children were born in Worksop: John William b. 1870, Henry Edward b. 1872 d. 1898, Albert Charles b. 1875, Mary Ann birth registered 1878 (J/F/M), Edith Emma birth registered 1881 (J/F/M), George Arthur b. 1884, Herbert birth registered 1887 (J/F/M) Annie Marie b. 1889 and Bernard b. 1894. John and Annie Maria lived on Netherton Road, Worksop, from 1871 until Annie's death in 1932. At the time of the 1901 and 1911 Census they were living at Gladstone Villa, Netherton Place, Netherton Road, Worksop. John was employed as a letter carrier [postman]. By 1901 only four of John and Annie's children were living in the family home: George a letter carrier, Herbert a cash boy in a shop, Annie and Bernard. Also in the home was John's widowed father-in-law, William Day, a retired gamekeeper. Of the couple's other five children, Henry had died in 1898. John William, a telegraphist (post office), had been living in Sheffield since at least 1891 and had married Edith Annie Law in Sheffield in 1900 where they were still living. Albert had married Edith Annie West at Clowne, Derbyshire, in February 1898. Mary Ann was working as housemaid in Bradford in the household of a civil engineer and his family and Edith was a general domestic servant in Bramley, Sheffield, in the home of a manufacturer's cashier, his wife and their six children. By 1911 John, now a pensioned postman, and Annie had only two children at home, Herbert, a watchmaker (jeweller), and Annie, a general domestic servant, but also living with them were their grandaughter Florence Annie Watkins (8), and two male boarders. Annie married later that year. Their youngest son, Bernard, was a postman and living at Waterloo Place, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, where he was a boarder. John Watkins died in December 1917 and his widow Annie Maria in December 1932, she was still living at Gladstone Villa. Each had made a Will and on both occasions probate was awarded to their eldest son, John William, in 1917 a sapper in HM Army and in 1932 a retired telegraphist. Three of Bernard's brothers also served in the war: John William, Arthur George and Herbert, who died of wounds received in action on 24 September 1917. (See 'Extra information')
8th Bn (Post Office Rifles) London Regiment. The Post Office Rifles, formerly part of the Volunteer Force and in 1908, when the Territorial Force was formed, was redesignated 1/8th Bn London Regiment. The 2/8th Bn London Regiment was a second line TF battalion formed in September 1914. The 1/8th went to France in March 1915 in the 47th (2nd London) Division and the 2/8th served in France from January 1917 in the 58th (2/2nd London) Division. The two battalions amalgamated in February 1918 to form the 8th Battalion (58th Division) when the number of battalions in a brigade was reduced. Bernard died on 8 October 1917 of wounds received in action and is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France (grave ref. XXX.A.8). CWGC - History of Etaples Military Cemetery, France (extract): 'During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick ... The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915.' (www.cwgc.org). It is the largest CWGC cemetery in France.
Three of Bernard's brothers, John William, Arthur George and Herbert, also served in the war: Herbert served with 24th Bn (The Queen's) London Regiment (723140 Rifleman) and died in France of wounds received in action on 1917. (See record on this Roll of Honour). John William attested in January 1915, aged 44, civilian occupation postal telegraphist/telegraph operator, and living in Sheffield. He was posted to the Royal Engineers (1780, 482197 Sapper) in the January and served in France and Belgium from 12 April 1915. He was transferred to the UK in February 1918. John transferred to Class 'Z' Army Reserve on demobilization on 28 February 1919. Arthur George was working for the General Post Office (GPO) and living in Leicester when he attested on 14 March 1915. He served with the 8th Bn (Post Office Rifles) London Regiment (371203 Rifleman) and was severely wounded on 12 August 1917. He was discharged from the army on 8 August 1918 aged 33 (Para 2 (a) (I) Army Order 265 dated 10/08/1917. P. 392 xvi King's Regulations Wounds). He was issued with Silver Badge No. 435464 on 9 August 1918. Worksop Guardian 5 October 1917: ''Rifleman Herbert Watkins. The sad news of the death of Rifleman Herbert Watkins, of the City of London Regiment, has been received by Mr. and Mrs. John Watkins, who reside at Gladstone Villa, Netherton Road, Worksop ... His two brothers’, both of whom are at present wounded and in Hospital. One, Rifleman Arthur G. Watkins, was wounded on August 12th, and he is in the 11th Harward U.S.A. General Hospital, France ... The other brother is Rifleman Bernard Watkins, who is suffering from shell shock. He also is in hospital in France. Both he and his brother, Arthur, are in the Post Office Rifles. Rifleman B. Watkins joined the Army from Burton-on-Trent about the same time as his brother. ... another son, John William Watkins, who is fighting in France. The latter’s son [ie. John William] is a telegraphist in the Signalling Co.' Rifleman Bernard Watkins Worksop Guardian 19 October 1917 'Mr. and Mrs. John Watkins, of Netherton Road, Worksop, has lost another son in the War. A fortnight ago we reported the death of Rifleman H. Watkins, and that, his brother, Rifleman A Watkins, had also been wounded. Now, alas! comes the news that their son, Bernard, of the Post Office Rifles, has also died of wounds received in action, accelerated by shell shock. He was badly wounded in the abdomen, and though all that was possible was done for him, death resulted in hospital in France. At the time of enlisting he was employed in the Post Office at Burton-on Trent. Much sympathy is expressed with his parents in their double bereavement. We hope to give Rifleman Watkins portrait in our next issue.' Research by Colin Dannatt
