Father Frederick J, 1916, and son Frederick S Watson, 1918

Amidst a major concentration of Commonwealth War Grave Commission pattern headstones in Lowestoft Cemetery there is a family headstone with the following dedication:-

In loving memory of
FREDERICK J WATSON
The beloved husband of
CAROLINE WATSON
Who was unfortunately blown up at sea
on June 28th 1916
in his 60th year.

Greatly missed by his wife and family.

Also of their son
Trooper FREDERICK S.WATSON
Canadian Reserve, Cavalry Regt)
who died Novr 27th 1918,
Aged 25 Years

‘ Tis sweet to think we shall meet again,
Where partings are no more;
And that the son I dearly loved,
Has only gone before.’

Also of
CAROLINE ELIZABETH WATSON
Who died Jan 28th 1945
Aged 86 years.

WATSON, FREDERICK JAMES
Rank:…………………........Deck Hand
Date of Death:…………28/06/1916
Age:…………………….......57
Service:…………………...Mercantile Marine
………………………….........Dredger "Mercurius" (London)
Panel Reference:
Memorial:………………...TOWER HILL MEMORIAL
Additional Information:
Husband of Caroline Elizabeth Watson, of 21, Cathcart St., Lowestoft. His son Private Frederick Samuel Watson also fell.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2969779/WATSON,%20FRE...

There is no entry on the WW1 Naval Casualties database for Frederick James.

Merchant Seaman also qualified for a Great War service medal. There is a Medal Index Card for a “Fredrick” James Watson, born Ramsgate, 1856, held under reference BT 351/1/147312 at the National Archive.
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7956539

WATSON, FREDERICK SAMUEL
Rank:…………………….....Private
Service No:………………7844
Date of Death:…………27/11/1918
Age:………………………....25
Regiment:………………..Canadian Mounted Rifles
………………………….........7th Regt.
Grave Reference:…….14. 366.
Cemetery:
LOWESTOFT (BECCLES ROAD) CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Mrs. Caroline Elizabeth Watson, of 21, Cathcart St., Lowestoft. His father Deck Hand Frederick James Watson also fell.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/397630/WATSON,%20FRED...

Canadian Army Service Records for Frederick Samuel can be viewed online here:-
www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-wo...

Frederick Samuel Watson, born “Lowestoff”, England on the 18th August 1893 enlisted for Overseas Service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force on February 5th 1915 at Toronto, Ontario. He was already serving in the Militia. A single man, his next of kin was his mother Caroline Watson, of 21 Cathcart Street, “Lowestoff”. He was working as a Labourer.

At the time of enlistment he was 5 feet 9 inches tall, with blue eyes, light brown hair and a medium complexion. He was stated to be 21 years and 5 months old. There were no distinctive marks.

By the 12th June 1915 he was in England at Shorncliffe and on the 2nd July 1916 he was taken on the strength of the L.S.H. (RC). A medical board found he was not fit for overseas service but could carry out base duties. He had perforations in both ears which had become infected, impairing his hearing. This had apparently been recurrent since childhood.

On his Army Will dated 1st December 1916 he lists his unit as Lord Strathcona’s Horse, R.C.. All his estate was left to his mother.

On the 6th March 1917, still in England, he was transferred from LSH (RC) to the Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment, his fitness level now being downgraded to C2, fit only for base duties. Throughout the period he seems to have been in and out of hospital for a variety of conditions. Late in 1917 he was upgraded to B2.

He took ill again on the 22nd November 1918 and was admitted to the Military Hospital, Frensham Hill, Farnham. He is recorded as having died there of influenza on the 27th November 1918.

1855/56 – Birth of father Frederick?

Although it had become compulsory to register births deaths and marriages with the Civil Authorities since 1837, it would take until 1872 before tougher fines imposed in Criminal Courts got compliance anywhere near 100%. From that time onwards you had 42 days to register or the fines started. I never seen anything stating what the regime was like prior to that – if it was more, less or the same. So at the time Frederick was born its always hit and miss as to whether a birth was registered, and of course it calls into question any potential birth record that is identified.

Saying which, there is a birth of a Frederick James Watson registered in the Thanet District of Kent in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1856. Post 1872 I’d be able to state it was almost certain that the earliest Frederick could have been born is the middle of the previous November but for now we have a rough line in the sand as to his date of birth.

There is a possible baptism record on line. The baptism of a Frederick James Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place at St Georges, Ramsgate, Kent, on the 2nd March 1856. His parents were Edmund and Sarah Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N1D7-YH5
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NNBT-HSC

I could not however find a likely match for his future wife, Caroline Elizabeth Goodrum, in the birth records from this period.

1861 Census of England and Wales

The most likely candidate is a 5 year old Frederick Watson, born Ramsgate, who was recorded living at 10 Portland Place, Ramsgate, Kent. This was the household of his widower father, Edward, aged 40 and a Bricklayer, born Ramsgate. His other children living with him are:-
John……..aged 14….born Ramsgate
Edward.....aged 11….born Ramsgate
Sarah…….aged 7…..born Ramgate
Also in the household is Fredericks’ maternal grandmother, the 72 year old widow, Ann Bayley, (? – tbc), born Sandwich, Kent.

While looking for his father and mother on earlier censuses I found that Frederick’s father also seemed to go by the name of Edmund.

There appears to be no likely match for his future wife on this Census.

1871 Census of England and Wales

There is no obvious match for Frederick or his father Edward. However, Frederick would have been old enough to have been at sea by the time of this census.

There is also no likely match for his future wife, Caroline Goodrum.

1878 – Marriage

The marriage of a Frederick James Watson to a Caroline Elizabeth Goodrum was recorded in the Mutford District of Suffolk in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1878.

Mutford District covered Lowestoft and the nearby villages.

1878/79 – birth of son Edward

The birth of an Edward Frederick Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1879.

The baptism of an Edward Frederick Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place on the 7th October 1888 at St Margaret, Lowestoft. Parents were Frederick and Caroline Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J9G5-Q9B

1880/81 – birth of son William

The birth of a William Henry Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1881.

The baptism of a William Henry Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place on the 7th October 1888 at St Margaret, Lowestoft. Parents were Frederick and Caroline Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7NH-TRL

1881 Census of England and Wales

The 25 year old Frederick J, a Fisherman born Ramsgate, Kent, was recorded as the married head of the household at 2 Raglan Cottage, Lowestoft. Living with him is his wife Caroline E, (aged 22, born Lowestoft) and their 7 year old daughter Mary A.G and their two sons Edward F, (2) and William H, (2 months) – all born Lowestoft.

(Note – there is no likely birth of a May or Mary Watson \ Goodrum in the Mutford District in the period concerned).

1891 Census of England and Wales

The Watsons were now living at 21 Cathcart Street, Lowestoft. Father Frederick J, (35), is now Master of a (Fishing) Smack. As well as wife Caroline E, (32), he lives there with children Mary, (17 – Dressmaker), Edward, (12) and William H, (10).

1893 – birth of son Frederick

The birth of a Frederick Samuel Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1893.

The baptism of a Frederick Samuel Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place on the 13th September 1893 at St Margaret, Lowestoft. Parents were Frederick James and Caroline Elizabeth Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXN6-Y6Y

(According to his Canadian Enlistment papers he was born on the 18th August 1893 – see link above.)

1896 – birth of daughter Caroline

The birth of a Caroline Redelpha Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1896.

The baptism of a Caroline Redelpha Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place on the 5th May 1898 at St Margaret, Lowestoft. Parents were Frederick James and Caroline Elizabeth Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NXN8-881

(Caroline would unfortunately pass away shortly afterwards. She was interred at Lowestoft Cemetery, aged 2, on the 18th May 1898.)
apps.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/pages/cemeteries/Lowestoft/tooke_...

1899 – birth of son Alfred

The birth of an Alfred John G. Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1899.

1900/01 – birth of son James

The birth of a James Albert Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1901.

The baptism of a James Albert Watson, no date of birth recorded, took place on the 22nd March 1901 at St Margaret, Lowestoft. Parents were Frederick James and Caroline Elizabeth Watson.
familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J31D-3NB

1901 Census of England and Wales

The Watson family were still living at 21 Cathcart Street. As well as parents Frederick J, (48, Fisherman) and Caroline E, (43), their children still single and living at home are Frederick S, (7), Alfred, (2) and James A, (2 months) – all born Lowestoft. There are also two boarders and a live in servant.

1902 – birth of son Sidney

The birth of a Sidney George Watson was recorded in the Mutford District in the July to September quarter, (Q3), of 1902.

1911 Census of England and Wales

Still living at 21 Cathcart Street, the 55 year old Frederick James, (Trawl Fisherman) states he has been married to his wife 33 years and that the couple have had 8 children, of which 7 were then still alive. Unfortunately Caroline was not home on the night of the census. Children still single and living at home are Frederick Samuel, (17, Labourer at a Fish Curer), Alfred John, (12), James Albert, (10) and Sidney George, (8 – born Lowestoft). There are also two elderly widowers living with them as boarders.

Caroline does not appear to have been recorded elsewhere.

On the day 1916 – Frederick J

The dredger Mercurius, 129 tons GRT, was built Rotterdam 1889 and was owned by the Tilbury Contracting & Dredging Co. Ltd (E. Hughes), London. It was mined 3 miles south-east of Lowestoft on the 28th June 1916. There were six casualties.
uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/4088.html
The mine came from UC-1, (Captain Kurt Ramien). The vessel was en route from Southampton to Immingham. Her captain was T.C. Barlow.
www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?11993
archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record.jsf?titleI...

There is no obvious Civil Probate for this man.

On the day 1918 – Frederick S

The death of a Frederick S Watson, aged 26, was recorded in the Farnham District of Kent in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1918.

From his service records, (see above), he died of influenza on the 27th November 1918 at the Military Hospital, Frensham Hill, Farnham.

Postscript

Caroline Elizabeth Watson, an 86 year old widower of 62 Sycamore Avenue was interred at Lowestoft Cemetery on the 2nd February 1945.

The 1946 Probate Calendar records that Caroline Elizabeth Watson of 21 Cathcart Street, Lowestoft, widow, died at 62 Sycamore Avenue, Lowestoft on the 28th January 1945. Administration was granted at the Ipswich Court on the 13th November 1946 to Sidney George Watson, labourer. Her effects were valued at £241 13s 8d.
probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Watson&...

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Lowestoft (show map)

Taken on: December 27, 2016

Tags:

Lowestoft

Lowestoft Cemetery

Suffolk

England

In memoria

Dulce et decorum est

Old soldiers rest in peace

Frederick Watson

Frederick James Watson

Frederick Samuel Watson

SS Mercurius

28/06/1916

28th June 1916

7th Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles

27/11/1918

27th November 1918

Spanish flu victim

Caroline Goodrum

Caroline Elizabeth Goodrum

Caroline Watson

Caroline Elizabeth Watson « less

Sets appears in: • In memoria • Dulce et Decorum Est..Pro Patria Mori more » • Lowestoft « less

Groups appears in: • Cemetery UK (not churchyards) • The Great War 1914 - 1918 more » • Old Soldiers (rest in peace) • The Home Fallen of the Great War 1914 - 1930 (UK CWGC Headstones • REMEMBER THEM « less

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