In Memory of Surgeon JAMES HENRY DIGBY M B WATSON H.M.S. "Hawke.", Royal Navy who died age 24 on 15 October 1914 Son of Engr. Capt. J. H. Watson, R.N., and Mrs. E. V. Watson, of Westwood, Helensburgh, Scotland. Remembered with honour CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL In addition to being an international rugby player he was a surgeon on HMS Hawke that was sunk on 15th October 1914. Temp. Surgeon James Henry Digby Watson, RN Born at Southsea on 31 August 1890 - the son of Engineer-Captain James Herbert Watson, RN Educated at King's College, Canterbury from 1899-1906; at Edinburgh Academy from 1906-1908, and at Edinburgh University where he was a student of medicine from 1908-1913; MB, ChB in 1913 Captain of the Edinburgh Academicals as a center three-quarter in 1912-13 in the 1st XV at both Edinburgh Academy and King's College, Caterbury Played for Blackheath and for London Hospital as center or wing three-quarter - was reserve three-quarter for Scotland in 1912-13 Represented Scotland against Ireland at Athletics winning the Long Jump - won the High Jump at Edinburgh Academy every year he was there and won the Edinburgh University Middleweight Boxing Competition. Drowned when the HMS Hawke was torpedoed by a German submarine on 15 Oct 1914 James Watson James Henry Digby Watson was born in Southsea on August 31st 1890, the son of an Engineering Officer in the Royal Navy. Leaving home for school in 1899 the young Watson was initially educated at King’s College, Canterbury, where he soon found a natural sporting affinity as he played for the schools first fifteen at rugby. This was a feat that he would repeat when he transferred to the Edinburgh Academy in 1906, usually playing in his preferred position of centre. Completing his studies at the Academy in 1908 Watson decided to embark on a career in medicine and remaining in Edinburgh he enrolled in the medical school at its university. During the five year course his prowess in a number of sporting fields increased. Whilst still at the Edinburgh Academy he had won the high jump every year, and later he would go on to represent Scotland against Ireland in the long jump in 1912 whilst a medical student. He was also to become the Edinburgh University middleweight boxing champion. With the outbreak of war in Europe Watson joined the Royal Navy as a temporary Surgeon following his Father, James Herbert Watson who was by now an Engineering Captain, and was posted to HMS Hawke. Launched in 1891 as an armored cruiser the Hawke was one of the oldest ships still in commission in the Navy at the time, and was essentially obsolescent. The Hawke had found some measure of notoriety in 1911 after colliding with the Olympic, sister ship of the Titanic, in the Solent. Now under the command of Captain Hugh Williams she was being used largely as a training ship and included in her crew were a large number of cadets and reservists. On October 1st 1914 the Hawke was on patrol with her sister ship, HMS Theseus in the North Sea some sixty miles from Aberdeen. At this time anti submarine warfare was very much in it’s infancy and the two ageing cruisers were operating without a destroyer screen and also proved slower than the German U9 that was shadowing them. Commanded by Lieutenant Otto Weddigen the previous month the U9 had famously sunk the cruisers Aboukir, Hogue and Crecy. Too inviting a target to pass up the U9 launched a torpedo against the Theseus that missed. The Hawke, who had turned to intercept a Norwegian collier, was hit amidships by the torpedo near her magazine, which was ignited by the detonation. HMS Hawke sank in only eight minutes with the loss of five hundred and twenty five men. The twenty four year old temporary surgeon James ‘Bungy’ Watson was amongst them.
Watson, James Henry Digby (‘Bungy’) played for England Internationals: 3: 1914 W+ S+ F+ (1t) James Watson was born on 31 August 1890 at Southsea, son of Engineer Captain J H Watson, RN, and Mrs E V Watson. Played as a Centre for: King’s School Canterbury, Edinburgh Academy, Edinburgh University, Blackheath, The London Hospital, Barbarians Profession: Medicine/Royal Navy Remarks: Son of James Donald Watson, NZ non test player. He was a Scottish reserve 1912-1913, but was capped the next season by England. Played for Barbarians: v Cardiff (0-19) v Newport (6-15) in 1911; v Leicester (11-15) in 1912; v Cardiff (0-10) v Swansea (0-8) in 1913. Represented Scotland in long jump 1912. Edinburgh University middleweight boxing champion. War service: Royal Navy; surgeon on HMS Hawke. He was killed in action at sea on 15 October 1914, when the cruiser HMS Hawke was sunk off Peterhead by U-9 (Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen), and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial,
