| Regimental number | 1846 |
| Place of birth | Barnsbury, London, England |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Draper |
| Address | Tramtray Stores, Scott Street, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 39 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 152 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, T Watkins, Brock Cottage, East Barnett, Herts, England |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 2nd Battalion, 4th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/19/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A8 Argyllshire on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Corporal |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 54th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Miscellaneous details (Nominal Roll) | *Spelt Herbert Earnest Watkins on NR |
| Place of burial | Ration Farm Military Cemetery (Plot VII, Row C, Grave 13), La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 160 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Thomas Francis and Charlotte WATKINS. |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Joined 2nd Bn, Gallipoli, 26 May 1915. Sent to Field Ambulance, 11 July 1915; rejoined unit, 18 July 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 28 December 1915 9general Gallipoli evacuation). Promoted Lance Corporal, Tel el Kebir, 23 January 1916. Transferred to 54th Bn, 14 February 1916; joined 54th Bn, Tel el Kebir, 16 February 1916. Promoted Temporary Corporal, 1 March 1916; promotion to Corporal made substantive, 1 March 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 19 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19/20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 4 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19/20 July 1916'. Note, Red Cross File No 2870308: 'No trace Germany. Cert by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.' Statement, 4463 Pte A.J. COUSINS, C Company, 54th Bn (patient, 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield, England), 5 March 1917: 'I saw him killed instantly and died at the same time as A.I. Higgins 4176 going over the top. He was in my section and was in Gallipoli.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, WATKINS Herbert Ernest
Red Cross file 2870308 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
