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 15978 Robert Norman Watson
- Age: 38
- From: Bootle
- Regiment: 13th KLR
- Died on Saturday 31st August 1918
- Commemorated at: Ecoust St Mein Bc
Panel Ref: A.39
Robert Norman was born in Bootle on 02nd May 1880, the eldest son of James France Watson and his wife Alice (née Warriner). His father, from Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and his mother, from Wensleydale, Yorkshire, married at St. John The Baptist, Tuebrook in 1876 and had six children. Robert had an older sister Lilian, and younger siblings William, Ernest, and twins Alice Grace and George.
The 1881 census finds the family living at 5 Malcolm Street, Bootle. His mother is 28, Lillian 3, and Robert 11 months old. His father is away at sea.
In 1891 his mother Alice, 38, with four children, is living at 7 Naseby Street, Walton. His father is away at sea, and his aunt Jane Warriner 34, ladies companion, lives with them. Robert is 10.
By 1901 they have moved not far away to 29 Church Road West, Walton, and now have five children. His father is a 49 year old marine engineer, his mother is 48 years old. Lillian M. is aged 23, Robert is 20 years old and a book-keeper for a master porter, Ernest J. is 13, and twins Alice G. and George are 9.
By 1911 they have moved across the Mersey to Liscard, Cheshire, living at 14 Belvidere Road. His father, aged 58, is now retired, and his mother is 57 and they have been married for 34 years and have had 6 children. Just two of their children are declared in the household; Robert is 30, an insurance clerk and Grace, aged 19, has no occupation listed. His brothers Ernest and George have emigrated to Australia, and his brother William is a Mariner, a Master since 1909.
Robert enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 02nd September 1914 joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15978. He gives his age as 34 years and 122 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 3” tall, weighing 126 lbs, 33” chest, with a brown complexion, and brown hair and eyes. He gives his religion as C of E and as next of kin his mother Alice in Belvidere Road.
A few days later on 10th September 1914, he married 28 year old Millicent Kempster in Wallasey Parish Church.
The 17th Battalion was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain.
Robert shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915. Robert saw action at the Somme. His service record survives and shows -
13/8/1916 sick, to Field Ambulance
14/8/1916 rejoined unit
02/9/1916 granted Good Conduct Badge for two years’ service
28/3/1917 sick, to Field Ambulance
02/4/1917 rejoined unit
01/7/1917 received Prof. Pay Class 1
25/7/1917 on leave to U.K.
04/8/1917 returned from leave
The Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) had begun on 31st July and continues until November. In the New Year the Pals battalions move south and take up positions near St. Quentin. Robert survives the German Spring Offensive.
13/5/1918 to Transport Depot (Bucquoy?)
15/6/1918 to Abbeville
10/7/1918 rejoined ex A.H.T.D. (Advanced Horse Transport Depot?)
He was posted to 13th K.L.R. on 24th August 1918 and one week later was killed in action.
His service record shows 31st August 1918 wounded in action, then the same date, killed in action.
The Battalion War Diary recorded the action during which Robert lost his life:
August 30 – At night time the battalion moved up in preparation for an attack on Ecoust.
August 31 – the Battalion attacked and were successful in obtaining their objective as also did the 1st Gordon Highlanders on their Left. The Battalion on the Right flank, however, did not get their objective and this necessitated a withdrawal temporarily and subsequently the Battalion re-took the objective though suffering heavy casualties.
Estimated Casualties: 9 Officers, 200 Other Ranks.
Robert now rests at Ecoust-St-Mein cemetery where his headstone contains the epitaph:"HE GAVE HIS ALL. NEVER FORGOTTEN BY HIS LOVING WIFE. UNTIL WE MEET"
Millicent initially received an official notification dated 16th September 1918 that her husband had been wounded but shortly afterwards was informed that he had been killed in action.
She wrote, from 34 Castle Street, Liscard, on 30th September 1918:
“In reference to the two official reports received from your office regarding no.15978 Private R. N. Watson 13th King’s Liverpool Regiment, the first to the effect that he was wounded (on 31st August), the second in which he is reported “killed in action” (on Sept. 18th) at place not stated. The two dates do not seem consistent to me and I should feel easier if further investigation could be made. I should be glad to have a reply regarding my husband as soon as possible. Yours truly, M. Watson”
His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 14th October 1918:
WATSON - August 31, killed in action, Private R. N. Watson, K.L.R. (late Pals), the dearly-loved husband of Millicent (Kempster), 34 Castle Road, Liscard.
Robert served for four years and earned his three medals, which his widow Millicent signed for. She received Robert’s Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £19. The pension card, giving addresses Falcon Cliff, Promenade, Egremont, later 167 Watling St. Rd. Preston, and Bronallt, Bryn Eithyn Avenue, Prestatyn, shows that she was awarded a pension of 13/9d a week from March 1919.
In February 1919, Millicent received, through solicitors Garrett & Tarbett, Royal Exchange Buildings, North John Street, Liverpool, Robert’s personal effects: 1 identity disc.
Probate in the amount of £364 was granted to his widow, showing Robert “died at Arras”.
In 1919 when Millicent, living at 51 Sea View Road, provided information on Robert’s living relatives, his father has died, and his mother is at 49 Holland Road, Wallasey, with Alice Grace, 30. His married sister Lilian lives in Northwich and brother William, 35, in Wallasey. Ernest, 33, and George, 30, live in Sydney Australia.
In 1920 Millicent received Robert’s Memorial Plaque and Scroll.
His brother William served in the Mercantile Marine through the war. Ernest, a civil engineer, married with two children, volunteered in the Australian Imperial Force in September 1917, and served as a Sapper. He embarked for the Western Front in August 1918, was invalided (influenza) to Australia in April 1919, and discharged in June. George appears to have worked in Bolivia as a civil engineer.
His mother died in 1933 aged 81.
In 1939 Millicent, 54, is living alone in a flat at 10 Dudley Road, Wallasey. She remarried in 1947 and died in 1974, aged 88.
His nephew, Flying Officer Arnold Haward, aged 28, son of Lilian, was killed in Norway when his plane crashed on 20th November 1942. He now rests at Helleland Churchyard, near Egersund, Norway.
Robert is commemorated on the following memorials -
St Hilary's Church, Wallasey
Parish of Wallasey Memorial
Cheshire Roll of Honour.
We currently have no further information on Robert Norman Watson, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.
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