Anthony Raymond Watson (1920 - 1942)

Born 6 Jan 1920 in Mottingham, Kent, England, United Kingdom

Died 1 Jul 1942 at age 22 in At Sea

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Biography

Tony Watson was a Prisoner of War during World War II.

Tony Watson died as a prisoner of war on the Montevideo Maru during the Second World War.

Anthony Raymond Watson gave his birthdate as 6 January 1919 when he enlisted in the armed forces in 1940. however he was actually born a year later, in 1920.

Anthony Raymond Watson was born on 6 January 1920 at 'St Margarets, Chislehurst Road, Mottingham', Kent, England, the only son of George Henry Raymond Watson, an 'accountant for clothiers', and his wife Mary Carmen Frances (Fanny).^[1] Mottingham is a district of south-east London.

Anthony was aged 8 when he migrated with his parents and sister Joan on the Jervis Bay which departed 7 August 1928 from London, England. ^[2]

He enlisted in the Australian Army for overseas service as a Private (VX46166) on 22 July 1940 at Melbourne Town Hall, Victoria. At the time his occupation was 'traveller', he was single and had brown hair and grey eyes. He was allocated to 2/22Bn and was promoted A/ Lance Cpl on 15 August 1940. He was promoted A/Cpl on 18 April 1941, and disembarked at Rabaul in the Territory of New Guinea on 26 April 1941. He was promoted A/Sgt on 6 December 1941.

When the Japanese invaded New Britain in January 1942 he was captured at Warangoi River and became a Prisoner of War.

He died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour.

Sources

1. ↑ Birth: Birth certificate (obtained 4 May 2024): WATSON, ANTHONY RAYMOND, mother's maiden name LEWIS GRO Reference: 1920 M Quarter in registration district BROMLEY Volume 02A Page 1410
2. ↑ UK and Ireland, Outward Passenger Lists, 1890-1960 for Mary C F Watson, London, 1928 Aug Ancestry.com sharing link

• Australian Army Service Record - National Archives of Australia - WATSON ANTHONY RAYMOND : Service Number - VX46166 : Date of birth - 06 Jan 1919 : Place of birth - LONDON ENG : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - WATSON SERIGE - http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?O=I&Number=6137610

• Roll of Honour - https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1694836

• Probate Notice - Advertising (1946, March 28). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 17. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22237150

• In Memoriam - Family Notices (1946, June 29). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 23. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22254970

• In Memoriam - Family Notices (1947, July 1). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 6. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article246151376

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission - https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2616452/watson,-anthony-raymond/

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/651452

• The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial: https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/prisoners-of-war/watson-anthony-raymond/