Stoker G Watson RNR 1720/S

[michaeldr]

STOKER G. WATSON
Service Number: 1720/S

Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Naval Reserve - H.M.S. Queen
Date of Death: 30 April 1915
Buried at: BABY 700 CEMETERY, ANZAC

1923 IWGC document also indicates HMS Queen - see https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/604697/g-watson/#&gid=1&pid=1

Re Baby 700 Cemetery from CWGC -
“Baby 700 was the name given to a hill, part of the Sari Bair range, connecting Russell's Top, by way of the Nek, with Battleship Hill (Big 700). It was the objective of the 3rd Australian Brigade on 25 April and was occupied early in the morning by parties of the 11th and 12th Battalions. They were joined by part of the Auckland Infantry Battalion later, but in the afternoon they were driven off the hill. It was the objective of other attacks, particularly on 2 May and 7 August, but it was never again reached. Baby 700 Cemetery was made after the Armistice.”

That last sentence is important - prior to the Armistice there was no recognisable cemetery here, but post-war, nearby isolated burials were brought in and thus the IWGC cemetery was formed.

NB: - Baby 700 Cemetery is a very long way from the Anzac Cove landing site; c.1860 yds (1700m) north-east
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The Landing At Anzac – details from the Mitchell Report

“Landing Ships.— “Queen,” “London,” “Prince of Wales.” 
Destroyers.— “Beagle,” “Bulldog,”  “Foxhound,”  “Scourge,” “Colne,” “Usk,” “Chelmer,” “Ribble.” 
Covering Ships.—“Triumph,” “Majestic,” “Bacchante,” “Ark Royal” ; 15 trawlers. 
The covering force consisted of the 3rd Australian Brigade. Before sailing, 500 troops of 3rd Australian Brigade were placed in each of " Queen,” “ London,” and “ Prince of Wales.” “ Queen,” “ London,” “ Prince of Wales,” “Majestic,” and “Bacchante” arrived five miles west of Gaba Tepe at 0100 on the 25th, where “ Triumph ” had been anchored the previous night, to mark the exact position. All six ships then hoisted out boats, who assembled alongside “Queen,” “Prince of Wales,” and “London,” two tows alongside each of the three ships. Each tow consisted of one steamboat, armed with a maxim in bow, one boom boat, one cutter and one transport lifeboat. Troops were then embarked, and at 0258 “ Queen,” “Prince of Wales ” and “London ” proceeded at five knots towards the shore, with the tows on either quarter.”

From 'Dardanelles – Narrative of Mine-Sweeping Trawler 448, manned by Queen Elizabeth'
[The Naval Review, Vol. IV] 
“SUNDAY, APRIL 25TH. THE DAY OF THE LANDING. 
We weighed at 2.30 a.m., and steamed slowly across towards the Gallipoli peninsula. Meanwhile, the covering ships had come round via the north of Imbros, and were about two miles ahead of us. Queen, London, and Prince of Wales each carried 500 Australian troops, who were destined to form the covering force. When five miles from the shore the ships stopped and hoisted out boats; the soldiers were given a hot meal and then brought aft along the mess decks, through the ward-room, and up the after hatches on to the quarter deck, where they fell in in places marked out on the deck, then quickly manned the boats as they came alongside. Each of the three ships had four tows of four boats, composed of steamboats, cutters, and transports' lifeboats, the latter having been brought round in the battleships. The remainder of the steamboats, etc., were provided by those ships of the covering force which did not have troops on board. Queen, Prince of Wales and London then advanced in line abreast, with their tows disposed on each bow and quarter. We were then following about three-quarters of a mile astern. After proceeding in this formation for approximately three miles, the battleships stopped, and the boats were told to "carry on." The weather conditions were perfect, calm as a mill-pond, pitch dark, with a slight mist. As near as I can judge it was about 4.10

see also "ANZAC.'' IMPRESSIONS OF THE LANDING AND 14 WEEKS' WORK ON THE BEACH [The Naval Review, Vol. IV (from page 298>)]

At Anzac on 25th April 1915, the 'covering ships' were Queen, Prince of Wales and London: quote - “Each tow consisted of :- 1 picket boat, 1 cutter, 1 launch or pinnace, 1 life-boat. And, as each tow, exclusive of its steamboat, had a working capacity of just more than 125 men, the force, with its machine guns, was thus economically and comfortably catered for. As soon as the men were in the boats, the tows were to cast off and take up a position like this :- 
                                                                      Tows
                                         1, 2, 3 & 4          5, 6, 7 & 8          9, 10, 11 & 12
                                             Queen         Prince of Wales            London                       
                                          …..........................................................................

Note: Included in HMS Queen's four tows were men of 9th Battalion AIF – there are two named 9th Battalion men in this cemetery together with Stoker Watson
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Alternative – Perhaps Watson was a member of one of the Beach Parties
“At 1100 the beach parties were sent ashore from “Queen” and “London” in two trawlers. Owing to the small size of the beach, and the continuous fire to which it was exposed, they were unable to organise it immediately as had been arranged beforehand. Boats had simply to go to the beach, disembark men and stores, and get away as soon as possible.”
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Everything so far points to this Stoker having become over enthusiastic and landed from HMS Queen, (possibly from one of her boats or as a member of the Beach Party). He then probably picked up a rifle and headed up country and into the fray together with the Australians.

His record however shows that he served first with HMS Lord Nelson and then transferred to HMS Agamemnon in early 1915

On the 25th April however, the latter ship was with the 5th Squadron (“Agamemnon’’, 12 T.B.D.’s, 3 French sweepers, 2 trawlers for laying nets) which was to be employed sweeping for mines inside the straits.

At that same time however, there were Stokers from the Agamemnon who were employed elsewhere: see Mitchell, page 125, Appendix I - On board transports there were to be 'Boat & hold parties'; 1 CPO, 11 POs, 9 Leading Seamen, 96 ABs and 23 Stokers, in all.
6 Stokers from the Agamemnon were allocated to Transport (A.2) 'Malda'
The four transports [Ionia (A.1), Malda (A.2), Devanha (A.3) & Suffolk (A.4)] provided 12 lifeboats which were to be allocated to TBS. 
Those of the Malda were allocated to HMS Beagle and HMS Colne. 
See above – the Beagle and the Colne were both with the force landing at Anzac.

So … … …
Which is correct? HMS Queen or HMS Agamemnon? The CWGC stone or the man's RNR record?
 
This is simply my thinking aloud here; 
please feel free to correct any of the above 
or add more information if you think it relevant  

Thanks for your interest, Michael

Edited 29 May , 2023 by michaeldr

[horatio2]

11 hours ago, michaeldr said:

he served first with HMS Nelson and then transferred to HMS Agamemnon in early 1915

Small correction: for NELSON read LORD NELSON. He apears to have been drafted across to AGAMEMNON just as she sailed from Portland for the Dardanelles on 9 February 1915. 

11 hours ago, michaeldr said:

Which is correct? HMS Queen or HMS Agamemnon?

They could both be correct (curses!). One could assume (no data) that Stoker Watson was lent to HMS QUEEN for her role at Anzac and by some mischance found himself in a forward and fatal position ashore. If so, it is very unlikely that he was drafted to QUEEN and even more unlikely that the details of his loan to QUEEN would have found their way back to UK for entry in his RNR record. This, rightly, shows that he was borne on the books of AGAMEMNON until discharged dead. It is worth recalling that naval records show where a man was borne for pay and they cannot be used to define where a rating was physically present on a particular day or days.

Thus, the CWGC shows (presumably correctly) that Stoker Watson was a memberof the QUEEN party sent ashore at Anzac. The circumstances of his death and burial remain uncertain. The RNR record shows that, at the date of his death, he was still one of AGAMEMNON's company.

Unfortunately the fog of war swirls around this rating's movements.

Edited 29 May , 2023 by horatio2

[michaeldr]

H2,

Many thanks for the correction (HMS Lord Nelson) and for your thoughts on this

best regards, Michael

 

[horatio2]

@michaeldr I see the following statement in the Naval Review "ANZAC" article (p.298): 

"The firsst day or two [of pre-landing planning] was spent in organising the beach party - 100 men from eight differnt ships ..." 

I had not realised that the beach party was so large. I think there is a strong possibility that Stoker Watson was so employed. The duties of these men, between beach and front line, could well have required visits to the fighting troops and, in so doing, running the risk of snipers. This could explain his demise and burial near the front line.

Still supposition but perhaps more realistic than the "grabbing a rifle" theory?

[KizmeRD]

46 minutes ago, horatio2 said:

Still supposition but perhaps more realistic than the "grabbing a rifle" theory?

Although I seem to recall one account I read a few years ago (will need to investigate further) that some ships were still recovering lone wolf sailors days after the landings (I remember being quite surprised when reading it that some sailors did in fact ‘grab a rifle’ and charge inland).

MB

 

[michaeldr]

The most notable examples of 'rifle-grabbing' were provided by the Cornwallis' crew at 'S' Beach. Though in truth that was slightly more 'organised' than impromptu; the Cornwallis' Captain Davidson being largely responsible - See Captain Eric W. Bush's book, chapter 11, including recriminations by Unwin VC (River Clyde) and the Cornwallis' own gunnery officer Lt H Minchin. The latter commented “This was the only time I ever took part in a real live bayonet charge.”

Captain Hughes Lockyer also mentions similar actions at 'X' Beach. He records that four of his men went missing and were returned to the ship a few days later "dressed in mixed uniform of Royal Fusiliers and Lancashire Fusiliers. On being brought before me they all had broad grins. On being asked why they had left the beach, the reply was:- "We couldn't help it Sir - we had to" but said one "We had a hell of a time - ." They had been in the front line for a week!! So all I could do was to congratulate them on being alive."