10th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth:
03/02/1891
Died:
23/06/1917 (Killed in Action)
Age:
26
Summary
James Watson was the only son of Thomas and Mary Watson. He was born in Moneymore on 3rd February 1891. He was one of four children. The family lived in Larrycormick, Moneymore. They were a farming family, although his father became a railway labourer latterly. James Watson joined the 10th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers and went to France in October 1915. Private James Watson was killed in action during the later stages of the Battle of Messines on Saturday 23rd June 1917. He was the only man in the 10th Battalion killed on this day.
Messines Ridge British Cemetery is located 9.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre on the Nieuwkerkestraat, a road leading from the Rijselseweg, N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen and on to Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. Nieuwkerkestraat is a right hand turning from the N365 in the town of Mesen. The cemetery lies 250 metres after this right hand turning, on the left hand side of the road.
