WATSON, Percy

Percy Watson was the son of Joseph and Mary Watson and attended Halesowen C of E school. In 1914 he lived with his wife, Sarah, and one child at 5 Queen Street, Halesowen and worked as a clerk at Stewarts and Lloyds. He enlisted in the Worcesters and joined the 10th Battalion who served on the Somme in 1916 and in the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917. In the Spring of 1918 the Worcesters were situated near Bapaume and represented the second line of defence against the first of the German Spring offensives. This opened on the 21st March with the Battle of St. Quentin and within three days the German attack had reached the old Somme battlefield. The Worcesters fought hard in the Battle of Bapaume but were forced back into retreat. Among the heavy losses was Private Percy Watson who was severely wounded and taken to a Casualty Clearing Station where he died on the 24th March. He was 33 years of age and is buried in Doullens Cemetery Extension (V B 74) and commemorated on the Halesowen and Halesowen C of E school Memorials. He had two brothers serving in the army.