BORN ALYSHAM, NORFOLK, 1890. SON OF ELIJAH JOHN WATSON (1865-1896) AND MARIA WATSON (1868-1947), OF MUSTARD HURN, MARKHAM, GREAT YARMOUTH. HIS GRANDMOTHER LIVED AT 7 , WILBERFORCE STREET, HULL. HE SERVED AS THIRD HAND ON THE STEAM TRAWLER “INDUSTRIA”. DROWNED 21/03/1917, AGED 26. HIS NAME IS LISTED IN HULL’S LOST TRAWLERMEN RECORDS AND COMMEMORTATED ON THE TOWER HILL NAVAL MEMORIAL, LONDON.
HIS BROTHER, DECKHAND, ROBERT SAMUEL WATSON, RNR, OF THE DRIFTER “COSMOS”, WAS LOST AT SEA, ON 15/02/1918, AGED 23, AND IS COMMEMORATED ON THE CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL.
The Hull steam trawler INDUSTRIA was captured by a U-boat and sunk by time bombs in the North Sea. Position of loss also reported as NE of Humber, 30/04/1917 (?) Also, reported by Uboat.net as sunk 25/03/1917, stopped and sunk by opening the scuttles of Scotland (?), crew of 9 all lost as not recovered from lifeboat.
CREW LOST ON INDUSTRIA (H14), enemy action in the North Sea, 27th March, 1917. ACUM, John (17), 18 Ireland-ter, Gillett st, Hull. Trimmer BARKS, Thomas (65), Address not traced. Cook BURNETT, Walter (53), 380 Boulevard, Hull. Chief Engineer CARNEY, Peter (42), 22 Gillett st, Hull. Deckhand HASS, Thomas (30), 13 Emily-grove, Brighton st, Hull. Bosun PARKER, Ernest (37), Address not traced. Skipper PARKER, Sidney (37), 5 Arthur-ter, Havelock st, Hull. Mate WATSON, Ernest (26), Address not traced. 3rd/Hand WILLIAMSON, Ernest (35), 17 Clifton-ter, Beverley rd, Hull. Read more at wrecksite: https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?147086
