Second Lieutenant Alastair Watson

Second Lieutenant Alastair Fisher Watson, 9th ( Service )Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action in France on 23rd April 1917 during the Battle of Arras, aged 25. He was the son of The Rev. A. Cameron Watson and Elizabeth Watson of The Manse, St. Boswells and is buried in Guemappe British Cemetery, Wancourt, Arras, France. He fell in the assault on the  village of Guemappe. This cost the Battalion 5 Officers and 17 Other Ranks killed and 6 Officers and 155 Other Ranks wounded. ( Battalion Company Officers were reduced to 6 ).He had been educated at George Watsons College, Edinburgh and then at the University of Edinburgh where he studied science from 1910-1914 graduating B.Sc. in 1914 During this time he joined the O.T.C. where he was a Cadet Corporal and was attached to the Lothian and Border Horse. He was afterwards an Officer Cadet with the 9th Black Watch and was commissioned into that Regiment in June 1916 . He went to France where he was wounded on the Somme in August 1916. His Headstone is inscribed ” Death Is Swallowed Up In Victory…. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. Ch. 15 V 54 And 57 “. The photographs show troops during the Battle.

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