TwoCreek

Thomas Watson Jr. (b.1896 - d.1943)

Thomas Watson was my Grand-uncle. He was the son of Thomas Pow Watson and Elizabeth Reid Walker. Thomas and was born on the 7th July, 1896 in Armadale, Scotland.

Thomas came to Canada with his mother and two sisters around 1910 and settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Thomas studied to become an electrician and served for three years with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers before the war.

Thomas enlisted in February 1916 and sailed to Liverpool the following May where he was transferred to the 11th Battalion, Canadian Engineers, 4th Cdn Division. He sailed for France in August 1916. This unit was also called the 11th Field Company, Canadian Engineers in the War Diaries.

Some of the field engineers responsiblities were building and repairing trenches, dugouts, roads and bridges, laying out communication wire and building the trackbeds for light railways (or tramlines). Field engineers routinely went "over the top" with the infantry to be in place to help consolidate positions once they were occupied. This was controversial, since many field engineers were killed or wounded before they reached their objectives.

1916 – The Somme

The 11th Field Company were initially sent to the Ypres Salient after they arrived in France, and were then transferred to La Boiselle on the Somme in early Oct 1916. It was here where they were involved in the capture and consolidation of part of the Regina Trench on 21st Oct, 1916 near Coucelette. The entire trench was finally captured on 11th Nov, 1916.

A few weeks later the 4th Division captured the Desire Trench, and on 19th Nov, 1916 (according to the War Diaries) the 11th Field Company completed a communication trench which joined the two together. This victory for the Canadians is notable in that it was the last battle to be fought during the Battle of the Somme, a conflict which took the lives of over 24,000 Canadian soldiers.

1917– Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele

Vimy Ridge: Apr 9-12, 1917 - The 11th Field Company was attached to the 11th Cdn Infantry Brigade, 4th Division. This unit was involved with the capture of the northern most end of Vimy Ridge. Thomas's uncle, Thomas Hamilton Walker, was with the 1st Division about 5 miles to the south during the same attack on the ridge.

In August 1917 Thomas was sent on a course at the School of Mines (Explosives) and then went on two weeks leave in Sept 1917. In March of 1918, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and was transferred to the Canadian Corp School.

Passchendaele: Oct 17th-Nov 17th, 1917 - The 11th Field Company was involved in support around Ypres during the Third battle of Ypres digging trenches and repairing roads. According to the War Diaries, they also supplied working parties to transport supplies including ammunition and duckboards towards the front lines. They also laid down tape that troops were to follow towards objectives, while enduring "heavy shell fire" and wearing "Box Respirators".

1918 – Battle of Drocourt-Queant, the Canal du Nord and the capture of Valenciennes

In early September 1918, the 11th Field Company was involved in support during the breaking of the Drocourt-Queant Line. They were also heavily involved in the successful crossing of the Canal du Nord on the way to capture of Cambrai.

Thomas was granted two weeks leave in Oct 1918 and rejoined his unit in the field on 2nd Nov, 1918, just in time for the capture of the town of Valenciennes, and a week before the war ended.

He remained overseas until May 1919 when he was sent back to Canada. Thomas had been badly gassed during the war, and suffered severely from its effects for the remainder of his life. Upon his arrival he was awarded the Military medal. According to a family story, this medal was awarded because Thomas had shared his gas mask with a fellow solder in the trenches during a gas attack.

Thomas settled in Winnipeg, Manitoba after the war where he worked as an electrical engineer. He married Marjorie Parsons in 1933 and raised his family there until his death in 1943.

Ian Watson: gr-nephew

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