Pte. S.R. Watson

FIRST NAMES: Sydney Robert

NUMBER: 5949867

RANK: Private

UNIT: 1st Beds & Herts Regiment

MARITAL STATUS: Married

OCCUPATION: Storeman

STATUS: Killed in Action

DATE OF DEATH: 25th November 1941

WHERE BURIED: Acroma, Libya

MEDALS: 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Victory Medal

Sidney Watson was born in Northallerton in 1915 and was the son of John and Sarah Watson and brother to George and Winifred. He worked as a storeman at Taylor's Chemist. When war broke out, Sydney volunteered for the army and joined the 1st Battalion Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment.

In 1941 the battalion sailed to the Middle East and in November, were heavily involved in he Battle for Tobruk. It was during this vicious fighting against Rommel's Afrika Corps that Sydney was killed.

Sydney Watson lies buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya, Plot 3, Row A, Grave 21. He is also remembered on the Northallerton War Memorial and the All Saints Church Memorial. Sydney is the brother of Private George Watson of the Durham Light Infantry, whose name also appears on the Northallerton Memorial.

Sydney was aged 26 years.