| Date | 9 March 1945 |
|---|---|
| Source | Windsor, Slough, & Eton Express |
| Reference | EE02-0001 |
| Volume | Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, Volume 2 |
| Collection | Eton Excelsior |
Transcript
KILLED IN ACTION – Major P. A. E. Watson
Major Peter A. E. Watson, son of the late Mr. Thomas Watson, and of Mrs. Watson, of 16 The Cloisters, Windsor Castle, and grandson of Alderman A. Harris, was killed in action at the end of last month. He was attached to the South Lancashire Regiment but held his commission in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.
He leaves a wife and a one-year-old daughter who are living in Ireland. They were married in August, 1942.
Major Watson was educated at the City of London School and was also a chorister at the Temple Church. After school days, he entered the Windsor Borough Sanitary Inspector’s Department under Mr. F. Arnold, and was there when called up at the age of 19 in 1939. For a year he had served in the Territorial Force, and was very keen. He went overseas soon after D-day. During the time he was out there, papers came through for him to be commissioned into the regular army, in the Royal Berkshire Regiment.
From the age of 16 until he went on active service, he was a member of Eton Excelsior Rowing Club, a fine oarsman, and rowed sixth in the 1938 Eight which did so well that year. He was also a good rugger player.
Images
Curator's Notes
He was one of eight members of the Eton Excelsior Rowing Club killed in action during the Second World War. The EERC Scrapbook Digitisation Project is dedicated to them. [source: WLHG website]
He joined EERC in April 1936. [source: EERC Records]
Major Peter Agustus Edward Watson (Service Number: 89337), of the Royal Berkshire Regiment, died on 27 Feb 1945 and is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery (48.F.15). [source: CWGC]
Son of Thomas and Doris Florence Watson; husband of Margaret Joan Alastair Watson, of Portrush, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland; father of Clare Petrina Margaret Watson. [source: CWGC]
Excerpts of the 1st S. Lancs. Regiment War Diary for Jun 1944 are available online [source: ww2talk website]
He was attached to the First South Lancashire Regiment when we was killed. He was the youngest son of Thomas and Mrs Watson, of 16 The Cloisters, Windsor Castle. [source: Windsor Express]
“Major Peter Augustus Edward Watson (89337) served in 4th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment during World War Two. Born on 22nd February 1920, he was the son of the late Thomas Watson and Dorothea “Doris” Ferguson Watson (née Harris) of Eton, Buckinghamshire.” [source: WartimeNI website]
“R. Berks. R. 2nd Lt (War Subs. Lt) Peter Augustus Edward WATSON (89377) from TA to be Lt., 17th Jan 1945, with seniority 22nd Aug., 1942.” [source: The London Gazette]
“4th Bn. R. Berks. – the undermentioned to be 2nd Lts. 17th June 1939:- Pte. Peter Augustus Edward Watson from RASC (late Cadet Under-Offr., Eton College, Jun. Div. OTC) to be 2nd Lt. 17th June 1939.” [source: The London Gazette]
The 1921 Census recorded the family at 16 The Cloisters, Windsor Castle. His father, Thomas Watson (38y 9m) was a professional musician employed as a Dean at Chapter of St Georges, Windsor Castle. Mother Dorothea Ferguson Watson (31y 2m), and brother Edgar Thomas Watson (7y 11m). Peter Augustus Edward Watson was 1y 3m at the time. [source: 1921 Census]
Curator's References
“Major PETER AUGUSTUS EDWARD WATSON” on the CWGC website [accessed 1 Aug 2026].
The 1st Lancs Regiment War Diary for Jun 1944 is held at the National Archive, reference WO 171/1332. An excerpt has been posted on the ww2talk website. [accessed 1 Aug 2026]
There is a death notice in the Windsor Express of 9 Mar 1945.
Short biography of “Peter Augustus Edward Watson” by Scott Edgar is found on the WartimeNI website. [accessed 1 Aug 2026]
Supplement to The London Gazette, 16 Jan 1945, Issue 36892, page 394.
The London Gazette, 16 Jun 1939, Issue 34636, page 4046 [accessed 1 Aug 2026]
The 1921 Census for 16, The Cloisters, Windsor Castle is available on Ancestry.co.uk [accessed 1 Aug 2026]