WATKINS, John

John Watkins was born in Stourbridge and volunteered for the Worcesters in the early days of the Great War. He joined the 4th Battalion, probably after their return from Gallipoli. The Battalion was in the 29th Division which was closely involved in the 1916 Battle of the Somme from its first day. They were in the second wave of attack on that day and they stayed in the front line trenches for 14 days before they could be relieved. They returned for the Battle of the Transloy Ridges in mid-October and the troops moved up to the village of Gueudecourt. As they reached the front line, shelling from the enemy was heavy and a few casualties were suffered. Private John Watkins was one of these. He was killed in action on the 15th October and is commemorated on the Thiepval and Stourbridge Memorials.