Does anybody know anything about this young Irish soldier and/or the POW camp please ? In Memory of Private W WATT 25010, 13th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) who died age 20 on 12 May 1915 Son of Mrs. M. Watt, of Process, Cloughmills, Belfast, Ireland. Remembered with honour NIEDERZWEHREN CEMETERY I found this on an excellent Irish site .... it's so hard to research Irish ancestors that when you see a site like this ... it's like a breath of fresh air !! William Watt was born in the townland of Frosses in 1895. His parents were James and Maggie Watt. He was the third child in a family of eight who were all members of Clough Presbyterian congregation. William's father, a member of the local Orange Lodge, was a farm labourer and for a time worked to John Gregg of Frosses. The family lived in a small house which still stands adjacent to Frosses Orange Hall. William and an elder brother James emigrated to Canada just before the outbreak of World War 1. William enlisted in the 5th Regiment of The Royal Highlanders of Canada at Valcartier, near the port of Quebec on 27th August 1914 shortly after the outbreak of war. His Attestation Papers were completed on 23rd September. He described himself as 'an engineer.' The Medical Officer who certified him fit for service gave his height as 5ft. 8ins. He described him as 'of fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.' William gave his age correctly as 19 years but examining doctors were asked to state their opinion of apparent age. Because of William's youthful appearance the doctor stated according to instructions given in the Regulations for Army Medical Services that in his opinion he was sixteen years and nine months. In less than two months William Watt sailed from Quebec with The First Contingent, Canadian Expeditionary Force, in number more than 32,000 men, (the largest convoy of men ever to cross the Atlantic). On reaching England the Canadians endured a long miserable winter in the mud and drizzle of the Salisbury Plain. In the spring 1915 it is said the men were deemed ready for the front line and were razor-keen. Nothing, they believed, could be worse than Salisbury. In the years that lay ahead, they were to find out just how tragically wrong that assessment was. The first engagement of Canadian forces with the enemy was in France but at Ypres in Belgium the Canadians bore the brunt of the first gas attack of WW1. On April 22nd. 1915 some 160 tons of chlorine gas was used by the Germans to breach the line held by the Canadians. In 48 hours the number of Canadian casualties numbered 6,000. William Watt was at that time serving with the 13th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry known as The Quebec Regiment. He was taken prisoner and sent to the German camp at Niederzwehren near Kassel, most likely having suffered from the gas attack. He died there on 12th May 1915. His brother James joined the Canadian Army the following year and survived the war. He returned to Ireland to live in Co. Down and frequently visited his mother at the Frosses. http://www.freewebs.com/snake43/powsremembered.htm http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/...rval=20&&PHPSESSID=rjg0tu06hkfusbhjv0aonvtjg3 http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/content/collections/books/bww1/ww1041.jpg Annie
