Humphrey John Fletcher Watson

Rank: Lieutenant

Unit: 3rd Battalion (Infantry)

Service: Australian Army

Date of death: 4 October 1917

Cemetery or memorial details: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium

War Grave Register notes:

WATSON, Lt. Humphrey John Fletcher. 3rd Bn. 4th Oct., 1917. Age 39. Son of the late Pilford Fletcher Watson and Mary Ann Miller Watson. Native of Yorkshire, England.

Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, Army

Humphrey Fletcher Watson was born at Leeds, England on 9 May 1881. He attended St Andrew’s Cathedral School and Manchester University. He became a civil engineer and surveyor. He came to Australia with his foster-father, and surveyed for the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Canal. He was living at Fairlight Crescent, Manly when he enlisted in June 1915.

Having previously served in the militia, he gained a commission. He was wounded in seven places on 22 July 1916, and invalided to London. He was promoted to Lieutenant in September 1916. By February 1917 he was back in France. He was killed in action on 4 October 1917. A brother, Thomas, survived him.

A letter from Lt H J F Watson to a friend living in Fairlight Crescent appeared in Manly Daily16 June 1916, stating of France:

“The most notable feature en route was the complete absence of young men. All the work on farms, gardens, railway station et was and is being done by women and girls.”