BORN WATERLOO, LIVERPOOL, 08/02/1896. ONLY SON OF ROBERT WATTS & KATE SMITH, OF NEWLAND PARK, HULL. ATTENDED SCHOOLS IN CROSBY & PARKGATE, CHESHIRE. A PROMISING SOPRANO SINGER. HE WORKED FOR A SHIP OWNER IN CARDIFF AND WAS WORKING FOR THE ADMIRALTY IN AUGUST 1914. GAZETTED AS 2ND LIEUTENANT TO THE EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT, ON 15/01/1915. TRAINED IN BEVERLEY AND RIPON. SENT TO FRANCE IN SEPTEMBER 1916. SERVED AS AN OFFICER WITH THE 13TH EAST YORKSHIRE BATTALION. TOOK PART IN SEVERAL ENGAGEMENTS ON THE SOMME. WOUNDED BY A BULLET TO THE HEAD, AT BEAUMONT HAMEL ON 13/11/1916. HIS FATHER WAS GIVEN PERMISSION TO VISIT HIM AT THE BASE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE DIED ON 20/11/1916, AGED 20.
HE IS BURIED AT NO:24 GENERAL HOSPITAL, ETAPLES, FRANCE. HE LEFT £152 IN HIS WILL TO HIS FATHER. HIS PHOTO APPEARS IN DE RUVIGNY’S ROLL OF HONOUR. HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 22/11/1916. HIS COMMANDING OFFICER WROTE, THAT HE WAS A THOROUGH GENTLEMAN, A BRAVE OFFICER, AND LOVED BY ALL RANKS IN THE 13TH EYR. HE IS COMMEMORATED ON THE FAMILY GRAVE, AT HULL NORTHERN CEMETERY.
