Offered is a group fo 3 medals and cap badge to Private F. Watson, West Yorkshire Regiment, who served in Albania with the Scutari International Occupation Force in 1913 and was wounded in action at Neuve Chapelle in 1915

1914 Star, impressed named 9407 PTE F. WATSON. 2/W. YORK:R., British War and Victory Medals (1914 – 18), impressed named 9407 PTE. F. WATSON. W YORK R. Court mounted for display, comes cap badge, copy service record, M.I.C., medal rolls, pension records, silver war badge list and extracts from the History of the West Yorkshire Regiment in the Great War.

Frank Watson was born at Kimberworth, Sheffield in December 1891, a small man at 5’ 3” tall, he was working as a pit pony driver when he enlisted into the West Yorkshire Regiment on 7/7/1910. After initial training he was posted to the 2nd Battalion where he was charged with ‘quitting the barracks after tattoo’ and ‘Shirking Company work’ receiving C.B. He deserted on 27/12/1911 was apprehended on 15/5/1912 by the Police. He was Court Martialled for desertion and charged with the loss of his clothing and regimental necessities by neglect, receiving 56 days detention. He was transferred to the 1st Battalion on 10/1/1912 and re posted to the 2nd Battalion on 6/9/1912 to serve at Malta (less chance of deserting again?).

The battalion was deployed to Albania (7/6/1913 – 9/6/1914), with the Scutari International Occupation Force. The battalion returned to Malta on 10/6/1914, staying until the outbreak of the Great War. Once relieved by a Territorial Battalion they returned to England 26/9/1914 – 4/11/1914.

They landed in France on 5/11/1914 as part of the 23rd Brigade, 8th Division. The battalion was in the trenches for the first time on 13/11/1914 at Messines.

He was wounded in action during the Battle of Neuve Chapell on 10 - 13/3/1915, receiving gunshot wounds to his arm and head. During the attack the battalion was on the extreme left of the attack and suffered 2 officers killed and 5 wounded, 55 men killed, 162 wounded and 18 missing, about a ¼ of the battalion.

He was evacuated to England on 14/3/1915 serving there until discharging on 7/4/1919 with the silver war badge. Whilst in England he was posted to several units including D.L.I. Labour Corps, R.F.C. and finishing with the Royal Defence Corps.