The AIF Project

Samuel WATSON

Regimental number1734
Place of birthDromore, Co Down, North Ireland
ReligionPresbyterian
OccupationLabourer
AddressKalgoorlie, Western Australia
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation27
Height5' 6"
Weight136 lbs
Next of kinFather, Mr John Watson, Glasgow, Scotland
Previous military serviceNil
Enlistment date1 February 1916
Place of enlistmentBlackboy Hill, Western Australia
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name51st Battalion, 2nd Reinforcement
AWM Embarkation Roll number23/68/3
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A60 Aeneas on 17 April 1916
Rank from Nominal RollPrivate
Unit from Nominal Roll51st Battalion
FateReturned to Australia
Discharge date25 November 1919
Other details

War service: Egypt, Western Front

Embarked, Fremantle, 17 April 1916.

Admitted to General Hospital (venereal disease), Suez, Egypt, 14 May 1916; to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital, Abbassia, 15 May 1916; discharged, 23 June 1916; total period of treatment for venereal disease: 41 days.

Embarked, Alexandria, to join the British Expeditionary Force, 6 August 1916.

Found guilty, Rollestone, England, 19 September 1916, of (1) overstaying leave from 11 am, 12 September 1916, until 8 am, 14 September 1916: awarded 14 days' detention; forfeits 3 days' pay.

Proceeded overseas to France, 23 September 1916; marched into 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, France, 24 September 1916; joined 51st Bn, in the field, 7 October 1916.

Wounded in action and admitted to 5th Australian Field Ambulance (gun shot wound: thumb), 29 November 1916; to 3rd Stationary Hospital, Rouen, 3 December 1916; to 2nd Convalescent Depot, 4 December 1916; discharged to 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 29 December 1916; to Segregation Camp, 11 January 1917; to 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot, 14 February 1917; proceeded to join unit, 24 February 1917; rejoined unit, in the field, 27 February 1917.

Field General Court Martial, 24 October 1917, charge: (1) when on active service deserting His Majesty's Service from, 13 October 1917, until, 15 October 1917; found guilty; sentenced to 5 years' detention.

Admitted to 5th Casualty Clearing Station (scabies), 21 November 1917; discharged, 22 November 1917; admitted to Military Prison to serve sentence, Dunkirk, 6 December 1917; sentence of 5 years reduced to 2 years, 23 December 1917; released from Military Prison, 18 November 1918, remainder of sentence suspended as from 18 November 1918; rejoined unit from prison (under suspended sentence), 20 November 1918.

Admitted to 48th Casualty Clearing Station (sick), 7 March 1919; to 55th Casualty Clearing Station, 14 March 1919; to 7th General Hospital, Wimereux, 1 April 1919; rejoined unit, 13 April 1919; marched out for return to Australia, 21 April 1919; marched out to England from Australian Base Depot, Havre, 2 May 1919; disembarked, Southampton, England, 3 May 1919; marched into Sutton Veny Command Depot, 3 May 1919; marched into Hurdcott Command Depot, 9 May 1919; marched into Parkhouse Training Depot, 4 June 1919.

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Plassy', 22 June 1919; disembarked, Fremantle, 17 October 1919; discharged, Perth, 25 November 1919.

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
SourcesNAA: B2455, WATSON Samuel

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