War Memorial Hall c1929
Robert Stobo WATSON
Robert Watson was born on 6 November 1897 in Essendon, Victoria. His parents were Robert Stobo and Jessie Stobo (née Maconochie) Watson. He attended Scotch from 1914 to 1915, having previously attended Haileybury College.
Robert was a clerk when he enlisted on 2 March 1916 in Melbourne, Victoria. He served in the 8th Field Artillery Brigade with the rank of Gunner. His Regimental Number was 26754.
Robert died on 14 August 1918 at Rosieres, France. He was 20 years of age.
Service record
Robert was only 18 years old on enlistment. His father had died in April 1915, and his mother gave permission for him to enlist (see below). Robert was a tall man at 5 feet 10 ¾ inches He was initially allocated to artillery reinforcements at Maribyrnong and then in August 1916 as a Gunner to the 5th Reinforcements to the 23rd Howitzer Brigade. He embarked with them in Melbourne on 7 September 1916, arriving at Plymouth, England, on 29 October. He sailed from England for France on 8 January 1917.
On 6 February he was transferred to the 3rd Divisional Artillery at Etaples, and was then taken on strength of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade on 8 February 1917. He was a member of the 108th Howitzer Battery, part of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade. In the last week of April he was at a Gas School. He was admitted to hospital with scabies in June 1917, and did not return to his unit till more than a week later, in early July. He fell ill again, with trench fever, in January 1918, and after three weeks was sent to England. A medical report said he was suffering headaches, pains in the chest and legs, a rapid pulse and an attack of diarrhoea. His obituary says he was ‘gassed and slightly wounded’ in this period. He was under treatment in England for three weeks, and only returned to his unit on France on 14 July 1918. He had exactly one month to live.
Robert was killed in action on 14 August. A note from his Battery commander says Robert was killed instantly by a fragment of bomb on the main road near Rosieres (see below). His obituary in The Scotch Collegian says he was hit while taking ammunition up to the guns that evening, and that the shell that hit him was ‘a stray fragment.'
Robert Watson is buried in the Caix British Cemetery, France.
Photographs and Documents:
Robert Watson receives permission to enlist at age 18.
An account of Robert Watson’s death, from his service file.
Sources:
- Australian War Memorial – Roll of Honour
- Mishura Scotch Database
- National Archives of Australia – B2455, WATSON R S
- Scotch Collegian 1918
- The AIF Project - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=315794
