Private John Watson

Private John Watson, 1st/9th ( Highland ) Battalion, Royal Scots. He was killed in action in France, aged 29, on the 24th March 1918 during the German March Offensive ( Operation Michael ). He had been born in Innerleithen and was the son of Thomas and Margaret Watson of Castle Street, Selkirk. Before enlisting he was the head warehouseman with Ballantyne Bros. Innerleithen. He went to France in January 1917 and was wounded in September of that year. He is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, Somme, France. On that day he was acting as a stretcher bearer and was posted missing when heavy German pressure near Nesle forced the Battalion to retire causing many casualties including 59 killed. The Battalion ( known as the “Dandy Ninth” ) was part of the 51st ( Highland ) Division and after the War an impressive Memorial was raised in its commemoration. It was erected overlooking “Y” Ravine on the Somme which was taken when the Division stormed the strong German positions in Beaumont Hamel on the 13th November 1916. A Plaque on the memorial reads in both English and Gaelic ” Friends Are Good On the Day Of Battle”. The other photos show Allied troops in defensive positions.