Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of John Watson, a wheelwright, born 5th December 1862 in Easenhall, Rugby, Warwickshire and his wife Mary Watson (nee North, married on the 13th July 1886 in All Saint’s Church, Narborough, Leicestershire), born 2nd November 1862 in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire. John Eric was born in 1894 in Miller’s Dale, Tideswell, Derbyshire and was baptised on the 22nd April 1894 in Tideswell Parish Church, his siblings were, Mary Constance, born 6th May 1887 in Ashwell, Rutland and was baptised on the 3rd July 1887 in Narborough Parish Church, Eleanor Louise, born 29th September 1889 and baptised on the 27th October 1889 in Tideswell Parish Church, Frances Margaret, born 31st December 1891 and baptised on the 31st January 1892 in Tideswell Parish Church and Frederick, born 15th February 1897 and baptised on the 21st March 1897 in Tideswell Parish Church, the latter three siblings were all born in Miller’s Dale and Alec North, born 6th February 1900 in Littlethorpe, Leicestershire and baptised on the 11th March 1900 in Narborough Parish Church, in March 1901 the family home was in Littlethorpe Lane, Littlethorpe. In April 1911 John was employed as a butcher’s apprentice and was residing in the family home in Littlethorpe, together with his father, a grazier, his mother and siblings Mary, a dress maker, Frances, a drapery shop assistant, Frederick, a schoolboy and Alec, a schoolboy.
John first entered the theatre of war in France on the 29th July 1915, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals.
The War Diary records: 31 Oct-17 - TRENCHES. Battalion commenced to move back to reserve at ZILLEBEKE RAILWAY DUGOUTS at 6.30 pm. Relief very slow owing to heavy gas shell barrage between POLYGON WOOD and CHATEAU WOOD. Relieved by 8th LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT. Casualties during the month, officers killed 5, wounded 7, one officer since died of wounds, total 12. Other ranks killed 50, wounded 213, missing 38, total 301.