Son of William Watson of Coalgate, Canterbury. Brother of William James Watson (1884-1916) who was killed in action during World War One. Claude Watson also served in World War One after enlisting on 3 May 1916 (Serial No. 26349). He was assigned to the Signallers section of the 1st Canterbury Regiment. He travelled to Britain on the Willochra as a Wireless operator, arriving on 16 December 1916. He fought at Messines and Passchendaele, and was wounded on 12 October 1917. He was treated in Britain at Hornchurch Hospital (facial surgery) and then recovered at Sling Camp until March 1919. He returned to New Zealand on The Hororata and was discharged on 13 April 1919. In 1940, he was working as an accountant at Watson & Anderson, public accountants, in Waipukurau. Accountant of Taupo in the 1970s; wrote poem, 'The Musterer's lament'.
Watson, Claude Richard, 1895-1983
Correspondence - Shockman-Young
Date: [1940]
From: Coates, Joseph Gordon, 1878-1943 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1785-208
Description: Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Correspondence - Sainsbury-Whangarei soldiers
Date: [1942]
From: Coates, Joseph Gordon, 1878-1943 : Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-1785-222
Description: Most correspondents identified and entered in the Name field; includes thank you letter to C D Smith, Firestone Tire & Rubber Co, Washington DC Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Inward letters from listeners
Date: 1974-1975
From: Petley, A Wayne, fl 1976 : Papers re campaign to save Open country
Reference: 76-037-3
Description: Inward letters from listeners, including MPs, re stopping of Open country (some correspondents have been given Name entries). Also includes correspondence with the Turnbull Library. Quantity: 1 folder(s).
Swann, Anne, fl 2005 : World War One letters of William James Watson
Date: [198-],[199-]
By: Swann, Anne, active 2005
Reference: MS-Papers-8197
Description: Two letters addressed to Eddie from William Watson, 16 November 1915 and 2 February 1916. The first letter, written from military camp in Weymouth, Dorset contains an account of Watson's experiences fighting in the Gallipoli Campain. The second letter, written from Hornchurch mainly describes camp life in England. The letters are accompanied by typed transcripts by his great-niece, Anne Swann and a photocopy of a photograph of Watson. Also an extract from a letter written by Watson's brother, Claude, describing the circumstances of his death, [198-]. Quantity: 1 folder(s). 0.01 Linear Metres. Physical Description: Mss (photocopies), typescript and photograph (photocopy)
Hampton, Jocelyn, active 2017: Transcription of Claude Watson's memoir
Date: 2017
By: Hampton, Jocelyn, active 2017
Reference: MSDL-3779
Description: Electronic transcription by Jocelyn Hampton of a memoir written by Claude Richard Watson, describing the day of 12th October 1917, and the battle for Passchendaele Ridge. Memoir written 1932. Transcribed 2017. Quantity: 1 Electronic document(s). Provenance: Donor was the daughter of Claude Richard Watson.