Herbert 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 his brothers also served in the war: John William, Arthur George and Bernard, who died of wounds received in action on 8 October 1917. (See 'Extra information')
24th Battalion (The Queen's) London Regiment The 24th (The Queen's) Battalion, formerly the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), was assigned to the London Regiment on the formation of the Territorial Force in 1908. The Battalion was mobilised in August 1914 (shortly after completion of the annual summer camp) and served with the BEF France as 1/24th Battalion from 16 March 1915. Herbert died at the 3rd Canadian Hospital, Boulogne, on 24 September 1917 from wounds received in action and the effects of gas and pneumonia. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France (grave ref. VIII.I.38).
Stamford Mercury, 9 December: ‘Worksop Nov. 24, Henry Edward Watkins 26.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Bernard Watkins served in the 8th Bn (Post Office Rifles) London Regiment (372677 Rifleman) and died of wounds on 8 October 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. CWGC additional information:- Son of John, and Annie Maria Watkins, of Gladstone Villa, Netherton Rd., Worksop, Notts. Rifleman Herbert Watkins Worksop Guardian 5 October 1917 '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. The report, which is official, is to the effect that he died of wounds, effects of gas, and pneumonia, in the Third Canadian Hospital, Boulogne, on September 24th. Deceased served his apprenticeship to the watchmaker trade with Mr. A Wheeler, watchmaker, Bridge Street, and had been in France 16 months. He enlisted from Leicester, where he had been residing about two years ago. He was well known in Worksop, where, like the other members of his family, he was held in high respect. Unfortunately, no portrait of him is available. 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. He was severely wounded in the arm, shoulder, thigh and chest. Prior to joining the forces, he lived at Leicester, where he was in the employ of the G.P.O. He has six children*. When in Worksop as a lad, he was employed as a telegraph boy, and, later, as postman. 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. They found each other at the training camp, and went through their course of instructions together. They went to France together, and were wounded at nearly the same time. Mr. and Mrs. John Watkins are old Worksopians, Mr. Watkins being a retired postman, having been in the service of the G.P.O. for 36 years. They have another son, John William Watkins, who is fighting in France. The latter’s son is a telegraphist in the Signalling Co.' * Marjorie Beatrice (1907), Reginald B (1911), Phyllis L (1913), Edwin D (1915) and Gertrude M (1917). Two more children were born after the war, Edith A 1919, William H 1922. Research by Colin Dannatt
