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.