Captain Harold Watson, an Army Padre of WW2
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| 1. Headstone of Captain Harold Watson, Padre Died on active service in WW2 [St Bees priory churchyard, Cumbria] |
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| 2. St Bees Priory church, St Bees, Cumbria [Where Captain Watson's funeral took place, 1941] |
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| 3. 1950s view of St Bees valley and the Irish Sea St Bees was Captain Watson's home village [St Bees priory is in the centre of the village] _________________________________ |
Royal Army Chaplains Department
Captain Harold Watson (Service No 38843) served with the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department in the early part of the Second World War. Although a resident of St Bees, Captain Watson and his father had worked at the nearby village of Cleator at Cleator Forge. He died as the result of an accident in the south of England (probably at or near St Albans, Hertfordshire). At the time of his death, on 12 November 1941, Captain Watson was 32 years old and married with one child. As an Army Chaplain (Padre) he was attached to the 7th Battalion The Border Regiment.
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For additional information about Captain Harold Watson, click on 'Comments' below.________________________________________________________________
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posted by ritsonvaljos at 3:49 pm
7 Comments:
Additional information about Captain Harold Watson:
Prior to WW2 Captain Watson had held a commission in the Territorial Army (Border Regiment) and had assisted his father, Mr Dacre Watson of St Bees, Cumberland at Cleator Forge before becoming a clergyman. Upon the outbreak of war Captain Watson rejoined his old regiment, and was serving as padre for the 7th Battalion The Border Regiment at the time of his death.
Captain Watson’s body was brought back to his home village for the Military Funeral. His coffin lay overnight in St Bees Priory Church before the funeral service on Saturday 15 November 1941. The coffin was draped with the Union Flag and members of St Bees Home Guard carried the coffin to the Churchyard for burial. The Vicar of St Bees, Reverend E.A. Sampson conducted the funeral service. Several serving officers and men of the Border Regiment also attended the service. Among the many floral tributes, there was one from the Officers, NCOs and men of “A Company”, the Commanding Officer and all ranks of the 7th Battalion that read:
“In Memory of a Real Pal”.
According to ‘The Whitehaven News’ report dated 20 November 1941 referring to the unfortunate death of Captain Watson, it also mentions that his younger brother serving in the Royal Navy - Second Officer N Watson - had been awarded the George Medal for gallantry at sea.
Army Padre's were always welcome by troops in out posts away from Base. They usually brought gifts in the way of cigarettes or the odd bottle of beer, sometimes the mail which had been held up in some base post office.
It was also a new face with outside news so no matter what denomiation we would crowd round and listen.
Most would give us a talk on something topical then add a bit of bible talk and then take away their own people for a chat although they were always ready to listen to anyone with a worry.
I had nothing but respect for those travelling Padre's which is more than could be said for some of the base people.
Harold Watson was my Great Uncle and my father Ken Watson (Who served as an engineer throughout the war in the Merchant Navy), always spoke very highly of him.
I was always told he died of pneumonia after sleeping out in a ditch on exercise, not an accident.
Uncle Norman, served in The Merchant Navy (not the Roayal Navy), and was awarded the George and Lloyd medals for throwing an unexploded bomb overboard.
as another member of the Watson family interesting to read a piece of family history I wasn't aware of.
Norman Watson was my grandfather.
The Commonwealth War Graves citation for Captain Watson reads as follows:
Name: WATSON, The Rev. HAROLD
Rank: Chaplain 4th Class
Service No: 38843
Date of Death: 12/11/1941
Age: 32
Regiment / Service: Royal Army Chaplains' Department., attd. 7th Bn Border Regiment
Grave Reference: Grave 58.
Cemetery: ST. BEES (SS. MARY AND BEGA) PRIORY CHURCHYARD, Cumberland. Additional Information:
Son of Dacre and Mary E. Watson, of St. Bees;
Husband of Doris Watson, of St. Bees.
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In remembrance of Captain Harold Watson
Prayers dedicated to the memory of Captain Harold Watson, an Army Chaplain who died on active service in WW2 (taken from ‘A Short Act of Service’ of the Royal Army Chaplain’s Department):
For the Departed.
Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be
parted, either by death or life: Hear our prayers and thanksgivings for
all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your
love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
…………………….
For the Peace of the World
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed:
kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace and guide
with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the
nations of the earth that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,
till the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord. Amen
……………….
For all the Armed Forces of the Crown
Almighty God, stretch forth your mighty arm to strengthen and protect
the armed forces: grant that meeting danger with courage and all
occasions with discipline and loyalty, they/we may truly serve the cause
of justice and peace; to the honour of your holy name, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
…………………….
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
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In remembrance of Captain, the Reverend Harold Watson
May he rest in peace!
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Click of the following link to read the tribute to Reverend Harold Watson by the St Bees Local History Society on the St Bees website, which includes a wartime newspaper report about his death and funeral:
St Bees village website (Rev. Harold Watson)
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