PTE R Watson 12th Parachute Battalion

Hello all,

sorry I was not sure if it where best to start a new thread or continue on the one marked 12th Parachute Battalion .

I am hoping that someone maybe able to assist me. I am looking for information about PTE R Watson 4388849 12th Parachute Battalion. I believe on course 123 at Ringway. I am trying to establish if he was present for the Normandy drop and info like first name etc

Any help is greatly appreciated

thanks

 

Hello BGUNN.

According to Paradata course No.123 ran from the 3rd of July 1944 to the 17th of July 1944.

If your man was on this course it would preclude him from having parachuted into Normandy.

And, should you not know already, Army Number 4388849 was a Green Howards number (which would have been retained on transfer or volunteering for The Parachute Regiment).
A "R Watson" with that service number had pre-war service in India (GSM issued).

Good luck with your searching, always,

Jim.

 

Pte Watson was on Op Varsity and was wounded on 24/3/45 whilst serving with the 12th Battalion.

Cheers

Arnhem

 

Thank you Arnhem and thank you Jim for your answers. All very helpful.

My search is actually to identify an R Watson for the Normandy invasion and would be associated with the airborne troops, Paratroops, Air landing or even glider pilots as is related to an item found in Normandy.

I had first seen that there was only one R Watson named in the airborne lists (R Watson,12th Para) so this would now eliminate him as a candidate being he didn’t jump Normandy.

I know this is a common name, so thought eliminating possibilities was the best route, so would now need to look at either air landing guys or the Glider pilots.

thanks again all

 

14619609 Pte. Robert Alexander Watson
22nd Independent Parachute Company (Pathfinders)
W.I.A. Normandy D.N.R.
Enlisted 03.06.1943
Discharged 12.09.1946

 

Hi David,

WOW that is amazing. Thank you for this information.

best regards

 

Hi David,

it’s interesting he isn’t listed in the rosters here

22nd Independent Parachute Company

However there is a reserve list which doesn’t show any names.
I have long also thought that these lists are not complete. For example in Midwood’s stick there are 10 including Midwood. But in the pre tack off photo’s there are 12 (11 of which are kitted up and blackened faces)

 

Yo,

He was very likely on the Reinforcement Stirling, Chalk 217, out of RAF Keevil. As for some explanation on the Midwood stick pic see following thread which is somewhat surprising once you get into it. But it has nothing to do with a Watson.

Which Battalion? 22nd Independent Parachute Company

You also asked the same question over there.

Regards ...

 

22nd IPC War Diary

22nd June 1944

0330 - Listening patrols returned.
0730 - 14619609 Pte. WATSON, R. wounded and evacuated.
1200 - The company withdrew from area LE MESNIL to conc area LE BAS RANVILLE.

Regards ...

 

Back right on that photo is Ray Povey who did not jump.

 

Hi Alex

yes, Ray Povey (Midwood’s Batman) didnt jump.

but actually my point is not including Povey there are 11 men pictured but only 10 on the roster list.

has anyone tried to identify the men in the picture?

 

Some of those men have been identified of course, but I don't think all. Good luck proving Pte. Watson is among them if that is your goal.



Regards ...

 

Hi Cee,

ah no, that is not my intention, it is purely to answer who is the 11th man even just a picture of him.

regards