Captain Frank Watson

• Age: 27
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: 22nd Manchester
• Died on Monday 2nd April 1917
• Commemorated at: St Leger
  Panel Ref: B.2

Frank Watson was born in 1890 at Liverpool and was the youngest son of Robert and Jane Ann Watson of 86 Queens Drive, Walton.

Frank was educated at Liverpool Institute and prior to the war he worked for the Treasurers Department of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 3 St Marys Lane, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool. His father, Robert, is aged 53, born  in Liverpool  in1848 is employed as a clerk at the docks, his mother, Jane Ann, is aged 54, born in 1847 in Manchester and has no occupation listed. They have seven children living with them at the time of the Census, Helena aged 25, born 1876 has no occupation listed, George aged 24, born 1877 and employed as a clerk consulate agent, Godfrey aged 19, born 1882 is a clerk at a brewers, Emma aged 16, born 1885 is a school teacher, Sydney aged 14, is an office boy for a ship broker, Frank aged 11, born 1890 and Amy aged 8, born 1893. Their children were born in Liverpool with the exception of George who was born in Walsall. They also have Robert’s father Isaac living with them, he is a widower aged 77, born 1824 with no occupation.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 86 Queens Drive Walton Liverpool. His father, Robert, is aged 64, (year of birth now showing as 1847) and is employed as a freight clerk, his mother, Jane Ann, is aged 65, (year of birth now shown as 1846) and has no occupation listed. They have been married for forty four years and have had twelve children of which one had died.  They have three children living with them at the time of the Census; Sydney aged 24, is an unemployed clerk, Frank aged 21, is a clerk for the Dock Board and Amy aged 19 has no occupation.    

Frank enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool when he joined the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment on 2nd September 1914 with the service no. 15466. He earned a commission and transferred to the 23rd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment in January 1915. 

He married Eva Watson (nee Griffiths) on the 04th October 1915 and at the time of the wedding they lived at 249 County Road, Walton. Frank was wounded in France in 1916 and returned to the UK for treatment at Empress Eugenie's Hospital at Farnborough. Upon his return to the front he was later transferred to the 22nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment and promoted to Captain.

He was killed in action on the 02nd April 1917, aged 27.

In letters home to his family his death was clearly described, he was wounded but carried on until a second injury proved fateful. His servant Private John Atkin lost his life, aged 20, to a snipers bullet while tending to Frank's wounds.

John is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. 

Frank now rests at St Leger British Cemetery, France. His headstone bears the epitaph:

"HE LIVETH ALWAYS IN OUR HEARTS"  

St. Leger village was occupied by Commonwealth troops in the middle of March 1917, lost after obstinate defence by the 40th and 34th Divisions a year later, and recaptured towards the end of the following August, after severe fighting, by the 62nd (West Riding) and Guards Divisions. The cemetery was begun in March 1917 and used by fighting units and field ambulances until March 1918, when a certain number of burials were made by the Germans. The Cemetery contains 184 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. Three of the burials are unidentified and six destroyed by shell fire are represented by special memorials. The cemetery also contains 20 unidentified German burials.

His wife Eva gave birth to a daughter in May 1917 and she was named Frankla in memory of the father she never met.

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