Son of Mr Charles & Mrs Rose Watts
Aged 23 years
Died 1st November 1918
Commemorated at Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery, Nord, France
Grave III. C.18.
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Born at Rushden, enlisted at Wellingborough.
Brother of Doris Watts and Charlie Watts.
His descendants tell us news of his death reached Rushden on 11th November, Armistice Day. |
The Rushden Echo, Friday 9 October 1914, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Rushdenite's Humorous Story - Off to Fight 'Em
Having joined the Imperial Service League, Private Thos. Chas. Watts, of Rushden, writes to say that he expects soon to be off to fight 'em. He is at present at Woolpit, near Bury St Edmunds, where his regiment are having severe training digging trenches, etc. One of his comrades amusingly said he wished he had been a bird so that the cat had gobbled him up rather then he should have known his present experiences!
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The Rushden Echo, Friday 6 December 1918, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Rushden's Casualty List - Victims of the War
The sad news has been received that Driver Thomas Charles Watts, R.F.A, aged 23, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Chas. Watts, 96, Cromwell-road, Rushden, was killed in action on the 1st November. Three letters have reached Mr and Mrs Watts from D Battery of the 189th Brigade, R.F.A, France.
Battery Sergt-Major McLachlan says:- "Whilst going into action in the afternoon we came under the fire of an enemy battery, and your son got hit, but he suffered no pain, for he died almost instantly. He was one of my best drivers, a good soldier, and fearless in action." The Major and a Second-Lieut in the battery also write expressing their deep sorrow. The deceased soldier was in the Territorials when the war broke out, and remained with them for a year, afterwards transferring to the Artillery. At one time he was a member of the Church Lad's Brigade. Previous to the war he was employed by Messrs. Skeeles and Co, of Rushden.
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 Kettering Leader, 6th December 1918, transcribed by John Collins.
A Fearless Fighter - Rushden Driver Killed in Action
Driver Thomas Charles Watts, R.F.A., eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Watts, 96 Cromwell-road, Rushden, was killed in action on Nov. 1st. The news has been confirmed by three letters which have reached the bereaved parents from "D" Battery of the 189th Brigade, R.F.A., France, Battery-Sergt.-Major McLachlan says: "Whilst going into action in the afternoon we came under the fire of an enemy battery, and your son got hit; but he suffered no pain, for he died almost instantly. He was one of my best drivers, a good soldier, and fearless in action." A Major and a Second-Lieutenant in the battery also write in appreciative terms. The late Driver Watts was a Territorial when war broke out, and remained with the Territorials for a year, after which he transferred to the Artillery. Before the was he worked for Messrs. Skeeles and Co., Moor-road, Rushden, and at one time he was a member of the St. Mary’s C.L.B. He was 23 years of age.
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