WATSON, George John Molesworth (1896-1973)
George John Molesworth Watson was born at St Kilda in May 1896, the son of Robert Molesworth Watson and Matilda nee Morison.
George Watson was enrolled at Geelong College in February 1910, leaving in December 1912. His address at the time of enrolment was Watson, of 'Lammermoor', Prairie, Western Queensland and it was noted that he had previously been at Queen's College, St Kilda.
He spent three years in the 9th Light Horse (Militia) before enlisting (No. 56954) in Sydney on 6 September 1917. He embarked from there with the 3rd General Service Reinforcements on HMAT A18 Wiltshire on 10 June 1918, arriving in Suez on 17 July 1918. He suffered malaria while in the Jordan Valley in Palestine in June 1918. He departed from Suez on HT Tagus for England on Military Employment on 9 July 1919, and was granted leave with pay under the Repatriation and Demobilisation Scheme from 5 August until 31 October 1919 to undertake a wool course with the New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency Company, London. On completion of his course he had leave to Paris, and returned to Australia on HT Konigen Louise, embarking on 19 December 1919. He was discharged from army service on 9 February 1920.
He died in New South Wales on 2 August 1973.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p333 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).