George Walker's Story.
Birkenhead News 20 January 1917Lieutenant Accidentally Killed
Whilst Flying in Egypt.
It is with deep regret that we have to record the death of Second-Lieut. George W. Watson, younger son of Mr. John Watson, of 17, Willowbank Road, Devonshire Park.
The late officer, who was in his 23rd year, was a private in the 4th Battalion Cheshire Regt. when the war broke out, and he was called up and was in training with them at Shrewsbury, Northampton, Cambridge, etc. In August 1915, after training in Cambridge he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the R.W.F. For a time he was at Park Hall Camp, sailing for Egypt in January, 1916. In letters he wrote home Lieut. Watson was greatly concerned as to whether he “had done or was doing as much as he might be doing”, and in view of the lack of officers in the R.F.C he offered his services and went through a training course in December, afterwards being transferred to an aerodrome. A wire was received in Birkenhead on New Year’s Eve that the young officer had been “accidently killed” on December 29th.
From the Lieutenant-Colonel in command of Lieut. Watson’s regiment of a letter, couched in the following sympathetic terms, has been received by his father -: “It is with very great sorrow that I am writing to offer my deepest sympathy on the death of your son. He was a great favourite with all here in the battalion, and was an excellent officer. We shall all miss him very, very much. It was some months ago that we sent out for more young officers, and your son volunteered. Please accept my deepest sympathy.
The Major of the Flying Corps to which the deceased was attached writes :-“It is with the deepest sympathy, both on my own behalf and that of all the instructional staff, that I am sending you some particulars of your son’s sad death. His death was absolutely instantaneous, and I am certain that he felt nothing. The funeral took place that evening, and was attended by all the officers not on duty. Wreaths from the instructional staff and from his fellow officers were laid on his grave.”
Mr. Watson learns that his son was buried at Cairo New Cemetery the same day as the accident occurred.
Second-Lieut. Watson completed his education at the Birkenhead Institute, subsequently being taken on the staff of the Bank of Liverpool. Prior to the war he was stationed at the Prenton branch. He was a member of the Y.M.C.A. and its Tennis Club, where he was exceedingly popular. He attended St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, North Road, and was treasurer of the adjoining Sunday School. His death will be keenly felt by all who knew him, and his father, three sisters, and brother – a private in the Canadian Contingent – have the heartfelt sympathy of all who know them.