The Soldier's Details

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soldier was wounded in action Jurong Road on 10/2/1942. Admitted to 40th Field Ambulance with shrapnel and bayonet wounds to right hand. Transferred to 2/13th Australian General Hospital then to 2/9th Field Ambulance on 22/2/1942. Transferred to Australian General Hospital at Roberts Barracks Changi on 11/3/1942. Discharged to unit on 17/3/1943. This soldier enlisted in the Permanent Military Force on 8/8/1930 and served until his discharge as an R.S.M. W.O.I. on 31/8/1938. He re-enlisted with P.M.F. on 3/9/1939 with whom he served until 2.12.1940 when he enlisted with 2nd A.I.F. on 4.12.1940. This officer’s commission as a T/Capt was terminated due his being graded medically unfit.
Appointment Terminated 30/5/1951.

Height 5′ 9″

Joe departed with first work force out of Singapore to the Burma end of the Railway – ‘A’ Force Burma, Green Force No. 3 Battalion sailing may 1942.  Please read about this work force

Whilst at Victoria Point Aerodrome, Lt Watson was one of the three witnesses from 2/4th at the execution by the Japanese of Robert Goulden.

 

 

Joe was recovered from Kachu Mountain Camp, Thailand.

Returning from war, Joe Watson married in 1946 to Gladys May Kiddy in Perth.

 

 

Arthur (Joe) was only son born to Arthur Raynor Watson and Amy Catherine Hocking who married 1906 Perth.  The couple also had two daughters.

Amy’s brother and Joe’s uncle John Herbert Booth Hocking  born 1897 Melbourne, enlisted WW1 was KIA Aug 1917 at Messines, Belgium aged 20 years.

 

Watson played rugby for Fremantle in the 1930s.

 

Joe’s father Arthur Raynor Watson died in 1945 aged 77 years.  Joe was a POW in Thailand at that time.

 

 

 

 

Amy Watson died in 1948 aged 68 years.

 

Joe died 14 Aug 1963 at Mt. Hawthorn aged 51 years. Gladys died 23 June 1975 aged 65 years.