George Watson (died 1916) of Martham
George is listed on the War Memorial as one of those who gave his life during the First World War.
I cannot find anything about George’s early years or his background. If you know anything about him please contact me.
George served in the military in 1916 as Private 14860 with the 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment. It is likely that George died on the Somme on 15th September 1916. Many young men from east Norfolk died on the same day as George. The 9th Battalion was raised at Norwich in September 1914 as part of Kitchener’s Third New Army. They joined the 24th Division in the Shoreham area for training. The Division was poorly equipped. After final training at Aldershot they proceeded to France, landing at Boulogne on 30th August 1915. George died along with 150 other Norfolk Regiment soldiers fighting at the battle of Flers-Courcelette (a British-French offensive as part of the Battle of the Somme). This battle was the first time Britain had used tanks in warfare. They did not operate well with the muddy conditions and very few of them were of any use. It appears that many of the Norfolk deaths and injuries were sadly caused by tank fire. George was killed in action on 15th September and is remembered on the War Memorial at Thiepval Memorial, Somme, pier & face 1c and 1d as well as the War Memorial at St Mary’s.
