Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Son of William Watson; husband of Edith Emma Watson, of Trentham Cottage, Church Lane, Ravenstone.

The following information was kindly submitted to the project by J Vann in 2016: "John Watson born1886 Married Edith Emmar Whitehall 22 April 1908 at Trentham parish church. Trentham cottage took it's name from Edith's connection with Trentham.
Edith died in 1944 and is commemorated on the same memorial."
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Coalville Times article - Friday December 6th, 1918.

LOCAL CASUALTIES

Private John Watson, Machine Gun Corps, aged 32, son of Mr Wm. Watson, of Ravenstone, died on Saturday morning in a hospital at Broughton, near Manchester, from wounds received in action in France on 20th October. The deceased’s wife and three children live in Piper’s Lane.

Coalville Times article - Friday December 13th, 1918

MILITARY FUNERAL AT RAVENSTONE

The funeral of the late Gunner J. Watson, of the Manchesters, took place on Thursday last week at Ravenstone. The body had been brought on the previous day from the Military Hospital, Broughton, near Manchester. The funeral procession was met at the churchyard gate by the Rector and choir. The hymn, “Jesu, lover of my soul,” was sung on the way to the church. The service in the church was choral, the deceased soldier having been an old member of the choir. Mrs Perkins, the organist, played suitable music as the cortege was leaving the church. The Oddfellows, cricket and football clubs of which the deceased was a member, were also represented. At the conclusion of the service at the grave, the hymn, “On the resurrection morning,” was sung. A firing party attended the funeral from Glen Parva Barracks and fired the customary volleys as a tribute of respect to the deceased soldier. The sounding of “The Last Post” brought an impressive service to a close. The funeral was attended by the immediate members of the family and by many relations. A great number of friends were also present, and many others to whom the deceased was personally known. The loss of this soldier brings the number of casualties in this little village up to twenty-six.

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Coalville Times article - Friday October 24th, 1919

THANKS

Mrs John Watson and children, Piper Lane, Ravenstone, wish to thank the Ravenstone footballers and cricketers for the memorial stone they have laid on his grave, to the memory of the late Pte. J. Watson, M.G.C., who died of wounds received whilst fighting for his country.

Mr W. Watson and Family wish to thank all kind friends for the stone erected by them for the late John Watson in Ravenstone Churchyard.

Blackthorn Cottages, Ravenstone.
October 22nd, 1919.
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Coalville Times article - Friday December 5th, 1919

IN MEMORIAM

Watson – In ever loving memory of my dear husband, Pte. John Watson, M.G.C. died November 30th, 1918, from wounds received while fighting for his country, buried at Ravenstone, December 5th, 1918.

“Gone from sight but not from memory,
None but aching hearts can tell.
Our sorrow is great, our loss hard to bear,
The Father in Heaven will guard him with care.”

From his loving Wife and Children
Piper Lane, Ravenstone.

Coalville Times article - Friday October 29th, 1920

RAVENSTONE WAR MEMORIAL

UNVEILED BY MAJOR HATCHETT, J.P.

IMPRESSIVE SERVICE

Few villages, perhaps in proportion to population, suffered more heavily in the war than Ravenstone, where on Sunday afternoon the unveiling took place of a memorial to 28 men of the parish who made the supreme sacrifice. The memorial consists of a cross of Weldon stone, 12ft high, with steps at the base and three panels in Swithland slate bearing the names of the men, and on the front panel appears the inscription

“In glorious memory of the unreturning brave 1914 – 1918”

The names of the fallen are as follows:

L.-Corporal J. C. Andrews, Pte. H. Walker, Corporal P. L. Smith, Pte. G. T. Andrews, Pte. J. Martin, Pte. W. Brooks, Corporal C. Fairbrother, Pte. J. Nicholls, Gunner A. Prew, Pte. S. Poole, Seaman W. Potter, Corporal J. Sinfield, Pte. C. T. Colver, Corporal J. Curtis, Pte. H. Congrave, Corporal J. Collier, L.-Corporal F. Marlow, Pte. J. Watson, Pte. R. Bodle, Pte. W. Glover, Pte. A. R. Brooks, Pte. G. Yates, Pte. J. Knifton, Pte. W. Hill, Pte. C. H. C. Wilson, Rfn. W. Knight, Sergt. J. Hancock and Pte. A. Fowkes.

The cross was designed by Mr T. H. Fosbrooke, architect, of Leicester, whose brother is the Squire of Ravenstone Hall, and it was executed by Mr J. H. Morcomb, also of Leicester. The cost was about £150, which has been defrayed by public subscription.

The memorial stands in a most eminent position in the picturesque churchyard, by the side of the pathway leading to the main entrance of the church, and the unveiling ceremony by Major Hatchett, J.P., in the autumn sunshine, with a huge concourse of people gathered around, formed a very impressive scene.

THE SERVICE

The proceedings commenced with a service in the quaint old church, which was packed to the doors, many, in fact, being unable to get in. The uplifting strains of the hymn, “O God, our help in ages past,” formed an appropriate commencement, and then followed a form of service, led by the Rector (the Rev. S. Dowling) in which proper Psalms (21 and 121), lessons (Wisdom iii, 1 – 9 and Rev. 21 1 – 7) and prayers were fittingly mingled, each serving to emphasise the leading note of the day. The anthem beautifully rendered by the choir, was taken from the words of the special lesson. “The Souls of the Righteous,” and the sermon was preached by the Rev. J. D. C. Wallace, the Master of Ravenstone Hospital, whose text was Philippians Ic 22v “With Christ, which is far better.” He said that for many centuries in peace and war time that church had stood at Ravenstone, but never before in its history had it seen what stood in its shadow to-day – a beautiful memorial inscribed with the names of nearly 30 Ravenstone boys who gave their lives in the war. Never before was there such a war, and never before was Ravenstone called upon to make such a sacrifice. “We need no monument,” he said, “They are our boys; we know their faces, know their generous dispositions and the fine spirit which sent them forth. All that is enshrined in our memories and nothing can deface it. We need no monument, but there is one outside because there will come after us generations who knew not out boys, and that monument will tell them in years to come what Ravenstone boys did in the hour of England’s peril.”

The memorial, he continued, was a symbol of their faith, of the greatest sacrifice of that Eternal Son of God, Who came from Heaven. It was that supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross that inspired their boys to make their sacrifice upon the altar of patriotism, and it would be acceptable to God. There would be sad thoughts that day, but he asked them to let proud thoughts prevail over the sad ones. They should be proud because they were the parents and friends of such boys – proud because they were not found wanting in the crucial hour, and because a new glory had come to their homes whether it was castle or cottage, the glory of their boys. Then their thoughts should help them to look forward, because the boys had only just passed on before them, called to a nobler work, and presently they would follow them. Let them not also forget the boys who came back. They went to stop the cruel evil and oppression which was threatening the people of this country from abroad. They wanted to ensure a peaceful and happy life for those here at home, believing them to be worthy of it. It was for them to prove that worth during the rest of their lives. If they were to keep up their jealousies and petty grievances the boys would have fought in vain, and there would be no better England. The boys taught them charitableness, unselfishness, and through love to serve one another. Let them take up the task and as they stood around the memorial solemnly pledge themselves before God and their boys that they would fight uncharitableness and selfishness among themselves and try to be more brotherly men and more sisterly women, to stand together for peace and good-will at home as they stood together in awful peril of the war. “That,” he concluded, “is the best tribute we can pay to those gallant boys, and when they see and know that, they will know that they have not died in vain; that we are worthy for whom they did such great things, and they will rest in peace and possess their souls in patience until that glad day when we and they shall meet again in the blessed presence of that one God, the Father and Saviour of us all.”

After the sermon the hymn, “Ten thousand times, ten thousand,” was sung, during which a collection for the memorial fund realised £13/8/3.

THE UNVEILING

A procession was then formed of the choir, clergy, wardens and members of the Memorial Committee, which proceeded to the cross, singing the hymn, “Through the night doubt and sorrow.”

Relatives of the fallen were given a place prominence around the memorial, and the service of dedication, conducted by the Rector, opened with the singing of “When I survey the wondrous Cross.” Having performed the ceremony of unveiling, Major J. Hatchett, J.P., said, “Several years ago, the Rector called a meeting, which appointed a committee to consider and report upon a suitable memorial, to do honour to the memory of the men who died for their country in the great war. The committee were fortunate in having the kind advice and assistance of an eminent architect, who was a native of Ravenstone, and took great interest in the memorial, the result being the placing here of this beautiful monument. The architect’s name is Mr Thomas Fosbrooke, of Leicester, and we have to thank Mr Fosbrooke very much for what he has done. We have today taken part in a solemn service in that venerable church in which so many generations of our fathers have worshipped, and we now are privileged to be assembled here in this acre of sacred ground, the resting place of so many of our beloved dead, for the purpose of discharging the honourable duty of assisting at the dedication of this memorial erected by the people of Ravenstone to the blessed memory of 28 brave men, who loved their country, and gave their lives to save English men, women and children from tyranny and oppression. We all desire to show our unstinted appreciation and our unbounded admiration of the courageous spirit of those fearless men, who, when their country was wantonly attacked, considered it to be a sacred duty to defend it; and this memorial, which has been raised as a tribute of respect, will remind us and those who came after us, our children and our children’s children, of the undaunted courage and the undying fame of those men of Ravenstone who, whilst upholding the honour of the British flag, and sustaining the reputation of the British soldier, sacrificed their lives. We owe an eternal debt of gratitude to the men who went forth in full health and strength, leaving home, comfort, friends and relatives, to take their places in the battle line to fight in the righteous cause of freedom and justice, against the most cruel, vindictive and treacherous foe the world has ever known. Our sincere, straight-forward, unassuming, determined men, were unafraid and undismayed, although they knew that the Angel of Death was hovering over their path. Their loyal and valued services were very helpful to their country in the hour of her need. We had hoped to witness their return to receive a grateful nation’s recognition and thanks, but the inscrutable degree of Providence ordered it otherwise. They faithfully and manfully performed their duty, they died glorious deaths, they died for England, they died for all of us and the places on the field of honour, where they lie in warriors graves, are hallowed and sanctified by a nation’s grief, and watered by a nation’s tears. We deplore their loss; their splendid examples will remain; their glorious memories will endure. We thank God for such men; and if England’s sons maintain the courage, the devotion and the unselfish patriotism displayed by them, we have no fear for the independence of our race, or for the position of our country and empire amongst the nations of the world. We tender our sincere sympathy to their relatives, trusting that God’s blessing will rest upon them and lighten the burden of their bereavement. Ravenstone is proud of the ever-living memories and the noble deeds of her unreturning immortal heroes, who without fear faced the foe and walked into the valley of the shadow of death, to save the lives, the honour and liberties of those they left behind. These brave British soldiers sill live in our hearts and will not be forgotten; their name liveth for ever. We shall always mention with respect and reverence the names inscribed on this memorial stone, which has been raised to protect their memory, and preserve their story, and remain a lasting monument of their glory. Duty impelled them and they never faltered. There was no need for her to call them twice. The end they saw not, nor would have wished it altered. They took the cross, and made the sacrifice. God grant that we may be found worthy of them, in the days that are to be!”

The dedication of the monument was solemnly performed by the Rector and prayers were followed by the singing of the Doxology.

Two buglers then stepped to the front of the memorial and sounded the “Last Post” and whilst this was in progress, there flew up towards the heavens four homing pigeons released from the hands of the Rev. J. D. C. Wallace, beautifully symbolical of carrying the message of that day’s proceedings.

Many beautiful floral tributes were placed on the memorial by relatives and friends of the deceased men.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photograph from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 12/7/2018

Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Watson, a coal miner, born in the 3rd quarter of 1857 in Coleorton, Leicestershire and his wife Mary Sarah Watson (nee Sketchley, married in the 1st quarter of 1881 in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district), born in the 4th quarter of 1860 in Coleorton and baptised on the 2nd June 1861 in St. George’s Church, Whitwick, Leicestershire. John, a schoolboy, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1886 in Ravenstone, Leicestershire and was baptised on the 17th October 1886 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, his siblings were, Thomas, a schoolboy, born 1882 and baptised on the 29th October 1883 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, Maria, a schoolgirl, born on the 3rd July 1882 and baptised on the 21st January 1884 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1884 and baptised on the 21st January 1884 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, William, born 1888 and baptised on the 7th October 1888 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone and Bertha, born on the 8th February 1891 and baptised on the 15th March 1891 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, all his siblings were born in Ravenstone, in April 1891 the family home was at Kirkby Turnpike, Old Lane, Ravenstone. In March 1901 John was employed as a an underground colliery horse driver and was residing in the family home at Church Lane, Ravenstone, together with his father, a colliery stallman, his mother and siblings, Thomas, a colliery stallman, Ann, born in the 2nd quarter of 1885 in Ravenstone and baptised on the 4th August 1886 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, William, George Harry, born on the 23rd July 1892 and baptised on the 18th September 1892 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone and Betsy, born on the 13th May 1894 and baptised on the 10th June 1894 in the Parish Church, Ravenstone, the latter two siblings were both born in Ravenstone. In April 1911 John was employed as an iron foundry worker and was residing in the family home at Sinope, Leicestershire, together with his wife Edith Emma Watson (nee Whitehall, married in the 2nd quarter of 1908 in the Stone, Staffordshire district), born 1880 in Loxley Green, Staffordshire and their children, George William, born on the 7th January 1909 in Ravenstone and John, born on the 1st November 1910 in Sinope. John and Edith later had a daughter, Bertha Henrietta, born on the 5th August 1914. John’s mother died in July 1914 in Ravenstone.
John’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Leicestershire Regiment, being allotted the service number 203421, and was posted as a Private to the Leicestershire Regiment, at some point on a date unknown he was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps and was allotted the service number 117075, it is also not known with which unit, or on what date he first entered the theatre of war in France, what can be confirmed by the service number issued by the Leicestershire Regiment, was that it would have been during 1917. Harry was wounded in action, in the field on the 30th October 1918 and was transferred to England being admitted to the Military Hospital in Salford, Lancashire, where he died on the 30th November 1918. He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Wednesday 4th December 1918 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “COUNTY NEWS.” - RAVENSTONE. - Death of Village Soldier. – Private John Watson. Machine Gun Corps, aged 32, son of Mr. Wm. Watson of Ravenstone, died on Saturday morning in a hospital at Broughton, near Manchester, from wounds received in action in France on the 20th October. The deceased’s wife and three children live in Piper’s-lane.