He was born at 98 Victoria Street, Westminster, London SW1 and was the second son of the Rev Patrick and Mrs Watson. His father was vicar at Earlsfield in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
He grew to be ix foot five inches tall and was recruited more or less off the street when war was declared in 1914 and was posted to France.
He was in the Signals Company attached to the 5th Division (one of the two Divisions which made up two Corps.
He rose to be a temporary major in the tank corps, was mentioned in despatches and won the DCM and DSO. His DCM was awarded for 'conspicuous gallantry and resource on numerous occasions in carrying messages under shell and line fire, especially on the Aisne and at Givenchy'.
