Born at Brighton, Sussex.
Enlisted at Hounslow on the 17th of March 1846.
Age: 24.
Height: 56 9".
Trade: Servant.
From Private to Corporal: 11th of June 1848.
Sent to Scutari on the 27th of October 1854 and rejoined the regiment on the 10th of November 1854.
Corporal to Sergeant: 14th of November 1854.
A nominal roll of men of the regiment at the Cavalry Depot, Scutari, made out on the 9th of November 1855, shows him as being On Duty there from the 4th of November.
From Private to Corporal: 1st of January 1858.
Corporal to Sergeant: 1st of January 1859.
Died at Manchester on the 10th of October 1859, and was buried in Hulme Parish church-yard.
[PB, Feb 2017: There is a possible reference to William Watson during a commemorative dinner held at Balaclava on 25 October 1855, mainly attended by Chargers, reported in some detail in Soldiering in Sunshine and Storm, by William Douglas, Private 10th Royal Hussars, Edinburgh 1865.
"Watson" (a "sergeant in the 4th Light") tells a story about how Sergeant William Williams, 8th Hussars, was sent into battle stripped of his weapons after some minor infraction. The unarmed Williams did not return from the Charge. According to the Watson, WW's elder brother, Sergeant-Major Samuel Williams, appears not to have protested. The context is a discussion about a general lack of access to justice in the Army (see chapter 13, pp. 261 -- 262).]
"I only wish," struck in a sergeant of the 4th Light, "that all those who wear them [medals], Bob, had earned them as well; but when we see them principally decorating the breasts of staff and hospital sergeants, it causes us chaps to lay but little store by 'distinguished conduct' medals. I say, 8th," he continued, turning to one of the 8th Hussars, "how was that affair of your Sergeant-major's brother settled?"
"Oh! all hushed up," was the reply.
"What was that, Watson?" asked several at once.
"Why, I thought nearly everybody knew about it; but as it appears not, I'll tell you what I know of the matter. After the 8th had formed up on the plain that morning,
the major, I believe, placed Sergeant under arrest for some trifling affair or other, and, as a consequence, his belts and arms were taken from him. Instead of being sent to the rear -- the place for a prisoner -- he was still kept in the ranks; and when we advanced on the guns, he went along with us unarmed. Like many more that day, he never returned; but whether he fell by the sword or bullet of the enemy, none knew; if by the sword, he was an easy victim, being unable to defend himself.
There was a deal of bother about the matter at first, and I fully expected that his brother would have reported the matter; but I suppose he thought better of it -- it could not bring the dead to life again, and would doubtless have injured his prospects; so second thoughts were probably best, as he was an old soldier with a family."
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma and Sebastopol.
Died at Manchester on the 10th of October 1859, and was buried in Hulme Parish churchyard.
A memorial stone was erected bearing the inscription:
"In memory of Sergeant William Watson, 4th Queen's Own Light Dragoons, who died October 10th 1859, aged 38 years. Erected by his Officers and Comrades."
(See photograph of this stone in the 4th Hussar file.)
Next of kin: Wife, Elizabeth Watson, living in Brighton, Sussex, to whom his "credits" of £3/16/10d were paid over.
EJB, early 2001: The church and its churchyard was sold to a property company for development, the church itself being turned into luxury flats. The churchyard on the north side has been cleared, the bodies disinterred in the presence of a priest and re-buried on the southern part of the churchyard, and a brick paved car park built in its place with a new boundary wall. Further enquiry has shown that the more important monuments would be preserved and re-erected in a garden of remembrance, but others were laid flat and set in concrete under the brick paved car park. It is more likely that they were broken up and used as hardcore.