People / John Hobart Watson

John Hobart Watson

1916 – 1943
Second World War serviceman of the Watson (Telfer-descendant) branch — died of wounds at Lae, 1943
JW

Biography

Role: Second World War serviceman of the Watson (Telfer-descendant) branch — died of wounds at Lae, 1943

Born: 1916 — Hawksburn, Victoria (AWM Roll of Honour circular, primary; supplement book gives Armadale — both inner-Melbourne, see Notes)
Died: 5 July 1943 (aged 27) — New Guinea, died of wounds
Buried: Lae War Cemetery, Lae, Papua New Guinea (Roll of Honour panel 32 / supplementary panel 6)
Service: Corporal, VX102907, 58/59th Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Army

Family

RelationName
BranchWATSON — descent from Jean Telfer (1840–1892)Mary Jane Paynter (1861–1945) → John Watson (b. 1851 Hobart) → Lancelot Hobart Watson (1888–1960)
FatherLancelot Hobart Watson (b. 30 Jan 1888; moved to Sydney, worked at Hay Street factory, Leichhardt; d. 29 Mar 1960, Sydney NSW)
MotherMiriam ... Hobart West (of Arkaba SA; m. ~1913)
SiblingsLancelot Rowe Watson (b. 1914 Murrumbeena Vic, d. 14 Apr 1974), Dorothy Jean Watson (b. 1918 Armadale Vic, d. 16 Sep 1980)
SpouseThelma Alice Scammel (m. 1941)

Timeline

DateEvent
1916Born at Hawksburn, Victoria (AWM circular; book gives Armadale)
~1913Father Lancelot Hobart Watson married Miriam ... Hobart West
1941Married Thelma Alice Scammel
1941/42 (enlist)Enlisted Australian Army, allocated service number VX102907, 58/59th Australian Infantry Battalion
5 Jul 1943Died of wounds in New Guinea (Second World War, 1939–1945)
Buried at Lae War Cemetery, Lae, Papua New Guinea

Sources

  • AWM Roll of Honour: John Hobart Watson (R1695924) — Cpl VX102907, 58/59th Aust Inf Bn, d. 5 Jul 1943 New Guinea (died of wounds), Lae War Cemetery, panel 32 / supp panel 6 — accessed 23 Aug 2026
  • AWM Roll of Honour circular: RCDIG1069316 — biographical card — accessed 23 Aug 2026
  • Book: A Telfer Family Tree (Supplement 2008) — descendant tree, Watson line, Armadale/Murrumbeena Vic
  • Book: From the Borders to the Bush — father Lancelot Hobart Watson b. 30 Jan 1888, Leichhardt factory, Sydney
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