Pte 31679 William Curphey Watkinson

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 26th June 1916
• Commemorated at: Cerisy-gailly Mil Cem
  Panel Ref: II.L.25

William Curphey Watkinson was born in 1896  in Liverpool. He was the son of George Watkinson and his wife Sarah A. (nee Baines). They married in 1892 at St Paul's Church, Toxteth Park, Liverpool. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 62 Nuttall Street, West Derby, Liverpool. His father, George, is aged 36, born in Liverpool in 1865 and works in a tobacco factory. His mother Sarah A,  is aged 27, born in Liverpool in 1874 with no occupation listed. Their three children declared on the Census are shown as; George aged 7, born 1894, Jessie aged 6, born 1895 and William aged 4,. Also listed is sister in law Bertha Baines aged 16, born 1885 in Liverpool living with them. 

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 7 Cheapside Liverpool, Liverpool. (The Rose & Crown Public House). His mother Sarah is a widow now aged 38 and is a licensed victualler (Her year of birth is now showing as 1873). She has two of her children living with her Jessie now aged 16 and William aged 14 who are both at school. Also living at the address at the time of the census are Martha Balmer a domestic servant aged 20, born 1891 and Florence Martin aged 22, born 1889 a barmaid who were both born in Liverpool.

Prior to enlisting William was employed by Mr S Chadwick of 19 Canning Place. He was also a member of St Nicholas' Church Bible class.

William enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 31679 when he died of wounds on 26^th June 1916, aged 19

A newsaper report of his death advises that he joined the Pals in October 1915 some weeks before his 19th birthday.

A notice was placed in the local press following his death and that of a fellow Pal, James Moore :

WATKINSON, MOORE - William C. Watkinson and James Moore, members of Rector of Liverpool Men's Bible Class and Brotherhood.(Our first to go in 1914, and our first to be taken). 

When duty called, and danger,

They were not wanting there.  

William now rests at Cerisy- Gailly Military Cemetery (Grave II L 25).

Gailly was the site of the 39th and 13th Casualty Clearing Stations during the early part of 1917, and of the 41st Stationary Hospital from May 1917 to March 1918. The villages were then captured by the Germans, but were retaken by the Australian Corps in August 1918. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery (originally called the New French Military Cemetery) was begun in February 1917 and used by medical units until March 1918. After the recapture of the village it was used by Australian units. The cemetery was increased after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields of the Somme.

It was begun by French troops in December, 1914, and was known to the French by the name of Ferme Caudron. It was taken over by British troops in August, 1915, and used until July, 1916. It contained the graves of 887 French soldiers, 260 from the United Kingdom and six German. 

The cemetery now contains 745 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 114 of the burials are unidentified and special memorials commemorate five casualties buried at Maricourt and Ste. Helene whose graves could not be found. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Soldiers Effects to his mother Sarah A.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo dated 11th July 1916 -

KILLED IN ACTION

WATKINSON—June 27, killed in action, in his 19th year, Private William. C. Watkinson, (Liverpool Pals), the dearly-loved youngest child of  Mrs. S. A. Watkinson, Rose and Crown Hotel, Cheapside. (My little hero.) Sadly missed by his sorrowing Mother, Sister, and Brother (in France).

He was commemorated in the Liverpool Echo on 27th June 1918:

WATKINSON - In sad memory of Private W. C. WATKINSON, aged 19 years, the very dearly loved youngest son of Mrs S. A. Watkinson, Rose and Crown Hotel, Cheapside, killed in action June 27th 1916. (so sadly missed)

WATKINSON - In memory of my only brother Private W. C. WATKINSON (Sans Changer), killed in action June 27th 1916. (His duty nobly done) - George

William is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 34. 

We currently have no further information on William Curphey Watkinson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.