Joseph St John Watson

Born in August 1878, he enlisted as a Regular soldier in the 2nd Battalion DLI and served in South Africa in 1902 with the 4th (Militia) Battalion DLI, as a Permanent Staff Sergeant. He went to France in September 1914 with 2 DLI, was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major in 1915 and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in January 1916 for his "great courage under fire and by his coolness and resource in charge of transport and issuing rations".

After Joseph Shea was killed in action in December 1917, Joseph Watson was commissioned as Lieutenant and Quartermaster in his place. He was then awarded the Military Cross in January 1918.

Wounded in action, he died, aged 40, on 30 April 1918 at the 13th Casualty Clearing Station. Joseph Watson, who left a widow, Margaret, is buried at Arneke British Cemetery, near Cassel, France.