Pte. WATTS T.R. 7693 1st Battalion, The Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

Watts, Thomas Richard. DoD: 03/10/1914. Age: 28. Unit Text: 1st Btn. Queens (Royal West Surrey) Regt. Son of William and Phyllis Watts, The Green, Horsmonden, Kent. Occ: Apprentice Plumber. Cemetery: ST. NAZAIRE (TOUTES-AIDES).

Thomas was the son of William and Phyllis Watts who were living at The Heath, Horsmonden was an apprentice plumber to his father. He enlisted in London in January of 1903 with the RWS regiment and following a short posting to South Africa, in the summer of 1904 returned home. He was posted to India and in 1906, after the expiry of his service Thomas was transferred to the Reserves and returned home to resume civilian occupation.

On 5th August 1914 he was called up and transferred to the 1st Battalion and sailed to France two weeks later.

Sadly, he was dangerously wounded just three weeks later and died in the St Nazaire Hospital.