History Lindley - pafn04 - Generated by Personal Ancestral File

Francis Horberry WATSON

Army Photo

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BORN: 15th May 1917

PLACE OF BIRTH: Trundle NSW

DIED:27th March 1989

PLACE OF DEATH: Bermagui NSW at his home at 56 Bunga Street.

SPOUSE: Mary Alice Hazel Siede

BORN:

PLACE OF BIRTH:

MARRIED:23rd February 1952

PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Springwood NSW

CHILDREN: Julie Mary Josephine, Gerard Francis.

        Francis Horberry Watson was born on the 15-May-1917 in Trundle NSW Aust., to
Rosabella Lindley and Francis Barnett Watson and is a twin brother to Henry James Watson. Frank, as he was more commonly known joined the Australian Citizens Military Forces in August 1941 and served with that force until September,1943 when he was transferred to the AIF. He was posted to the already distinguished and much decorated 2/48th Infantry Battalion. Within two months of joining the Battalion, He was involved in some of the heaviest fighting in New Guinea in
the Jivenaneng and Sattelburg areas. Sattelburg was captured on the 25-Nov-1943.
        Later, the 2/48th took part in the landing on Tarakan Island, off the East Coast of Borneo. Heavy fighting took place and half of the attacking force was either killed or wounded. By August, Tarakan had been captured and the war with Japan was nearing an end. Frank was discharged from Military duties on the 19-April-1946. He served a total of 1708 days, which include 1149 days in Australia and 317 days outside Australia. The description of soldier on discharge was, 5ft 11 inches tall, brown eyes, fair complexion and he had a scar on forehead.
        Francis Horberry Watson married Mary Alice Hazel Siede (better known as Hazel), a Telephonist of Park Rd Springwood NSW. They lived in Springwood for many years where Frank worked on the Railway. They had one daughter, Julie Mary Josephine Watson and one son Gerard Francis.
        Frank later moved to French's Forest and worked on the Council there. He retired to Bermagui on the South Coast of NSW about 1982. He took an active interest in the local R.S.L and was a member of the committee of management until his passing on the 27-MAR-1989 at the age of 71 years, at his home at 56 Bunga Street, Bermagui NSW. He was buried in the Bermagui cemetery on the 31-MAR-1989.

Francis Horberry Watson WW2 Service Certificate Franks Attestation Funeral Service Discharge paper

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Bill McKie Parkes, NSW Australia