Remembering Sgt Ronald Watson

09/09/1919 – 26/11/2010

My maternal grandfather, Ronald Watson, joined the Durham Light Infantry on 24th April 1939 at aged 19 as army number 4455493. He was previously a clerk and shorthand typist.

Ronnie was sent to France on 17th January 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force, where he served as a supply clerk. He was transferred to the Royal Army Supply Corp on 10th May 1940 and promoted from Private to Lance Corporal.

He was evacuated from Dunkirk at some point between 26th May and 4th June 1940. Ronnie remembered taking shelter in a church and in a shell crater on the beach. By 23rd June 1940 he had resumed contact with the army again.

Ronnie is pictured below on his wedding day, when he married my grandmother Stella Mary Temple on 11th January 1941 at St Michael’s Church, Houghton-le-Spring.

Between 21st April 1941 and 27th August 1943, he was on deployment with Middle East Forces, and visited Egypt, Cyprus, Palestine and Sicily. During this deployment he was promoted to Corporal on 15th June 1942 and then to Sergeant on 20th January 1943.

Between 28th April 1943 and 8th November 1943, Ronnie was serving in North Africa as part of the 8th Army. He then served in Italy and was present during the Battle of Monte Cassino in early 1944.

Between 13th June 1944 and 6th March 1946, Ronnie served in the British Army of the Rhine. During this deployment, Ronnie was one of the British troops present in the liberation of Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp on 15th April 1945 and was involved in the subsequent clean-up. This was an experience that he never talked about.

He finally returned home on 7th March 1946, although he remained part of royal army reserves between 27th June 1946 and 30th June 1959.