1885 - 1916
CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916
Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916
Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Pte 26020 James William Watts
- Age: 27
- From: Wigan, Lancs
- Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
- K.I.A Wednesday 20th June 1917
- Commemorated at: Dickebusch New Mil Cem
Panel Ref: III.D.8
James William was born on the 16th May 1890 in Upholland, near Wigan the eldest child and son of James William Watts and his wife Jane (née Fairclough) who were married on the 14th July 1888 at St Thomas the Martyr Church, Upholland. James snr was a 24 year old quarryman of Grimshaw Lane, his father, William, was a quarryman, whilst Jane was aged 21 also of Grimshaw Lane, her father, William, was a collier. James was baptised on the 25th May 1890 also at St Thomas’, his father a quarryman of Grimshaw Lane.
The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 113 Ormakirk Road, Upholland. James is now 10 years of age and lives with both parents and four siblings. His father advises that he was born in Crawshaw Booth and is now a rock getter in a stone quarry. His mother advises that she was born in Upholland as were all of her children. James' siblings are listed as; Thomas aged 9, Florence aged 7, Henry aged 4 and Elizabeth aged 2.
By 1911 the family are living at 232 Ormskirk Road, Upholland. James William is now aged 20 and is a colliery labourer below ground. He lives with both parents and five siblings. His parents advise that they have been married for 23 years and have had eleven children of whom eight have survived. Those listed as in the household are; Thomas aged 19 who like his father and elder brother is a colliery labourer below ground, Elizabeth aged 12, John 8, Edith 5 and Ernest 3.
James William married Sarah Barton in the first quarter of 1914 at St Thomas the Martyr Church, Upholland.
The Battalion diary records that they were:
In huts, training and supplying cable trench working parties:
On 20th June 1917 Private James William Watts was recorded in the Battalion diary as killed in action.
A newspaper article appeared shortly after his death and is transcribed below:
Upholland Drawer Killed
"One of the best fellows in the world"
Mrs Watts of 143 Ormskirk Road, Upholland has received news that her husband, Private James William Watts of the King's Liverpool Regiment has been killed while on active service. Pte Watts who was 27 years old, enlisted in February 1915 and was last employed as a drawer at the White Moss Collieries. his Captain writing to the widow sends his most sincere sympathy and tells her that her husband was one of the best fellows in the world, and died most gallantly by trying to get the horses to a place of safety as our lines were being badly shelled.
"The only consolation there is in this very sad business is that he died an absolutely painless death, being hit through the heart and dying instantaneously" adds the writer. "Your husband had been with me since the section was formed two years ago and he will be terribly missed by me and all his comrades, being always cheerful and ready to give anyone a helping hand and we can ill afford to lose such men"
His death also featured in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 24th July 1917;
Private James William Watts, K.L.R., (27), Ormskirk-road, Upholland, has been killed in action. Before enlisting, over two years ago, he was employed at the White Moss Collieries.
Also in the Wigan Observer and District Advertiser on Saturday 14th July 1917;
IN MEMORIAM-Continued
WATTS. - In memory of Private James William Watts, killed in action near Ypres, June 20th, 1917, of the 18th King's Liverpool Regiment.
We have lost you, dear brother, we who loved you,
But, like others, must be brave,
For we know that you are lying In a British soldier's grave.
A loving brother so kind and true.
He was to us in heart and mind;
He fought the fight, the victory won;
Some day, brother, in a better land,
We shall meet and understand.
From his Brother and Sister-in-law, Tom and Annie Watts.
Ormskirk-road, Upholland.
WATTS. - Killed in action June 20th, 1917, Private J. W. Watts, K.L.R.
When last I saw his smiling face,
He looked so strong and brave.
I little thought how soon he'd be
Laid in a hero's grave.
Could I have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell.
The blow might not have been so great
To me who loved him well.
Deeply regretted by his Brother-in-law, Peter Lyon, now In France.
James William now rests at Dickiebusch New Military Cemetery in Belgium where his headstone contains an epitaph from both his wife and his parents:
PERFECT PEACE, FATHER & MOTHER”
The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 (in succession to the Old Military Cemetery near the Church), and was used until May 1917 by neighbouring fighting units and field ambulances. The 31st (Alberta) Canadian Infantry Battalion erected a memorial in it to 22 of their numbers who fell in April 1916. A few further burials took place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.
The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified. The Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified. The two cemeteries are treated, so far as possible, as one. The Cross is placed in the Extension, opposite the entrance, and the War Stone by the roadside in the New Military Cemetery.
The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.
His death was reported in the Wigan Observer on the 07th July 1917:WATTS - In loving memory of Private James William Watts, who was killed in action on June 20th 1917, aged 27 years .
Somewhere in Belgium my husband lies,
His grave to us unknown.
I was not near to hold his hand,
Nor hear his last farewell.
The only consolation left is to know we meet again.
From his loving wife Sarah Watts, 143 Ormskirk Road, near Wigan.
Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £2 12s 5d, £10 10s War Gratuity and pension of 13/9 pw to widow Sarah (Alker), 143 Ormskirk road.
On the 1921 Census at 143 Ormskirk Road, his widow Sarah Alker is aged 28, Nicholas is aged 41, a coal hewer, born in Upholland. He already has four children, and now new daughter Mary aged 1. His parents were at 232 Ormskirk Road with children Henry, Edith and Ernest.
His widow, Sarah, remarried to widower Nicholas Alker in 1919.
His mother died, aged 55, in 1923 and his father, died aged 68, in 1932.
James is also commemorated on the Upholland Memorial.We currently have no further information on James William Watts, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
Killed On This Day.
(108 Years this day)Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
21 years old
A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All