William James Watson was the eldest son of James and Sarah Ann Watson. He was born on 8th June 1897 in Caledon, County Tyrone. By the time of the 1901 census, the family had moved to Knocknagoney, Ballyhackamore, County Down. His father, James Watson, was an agricultural labourer. William was with the Royal Army Service Corps for a time. Private William James Watson was serving with the 16th Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) when he was killed in action on Tuesday 20th November 1917. His parents lived at 78 Church Street East, Belfast.
Ribecourt-la-Tour is a village about 10 kilometres south-west of Cambrai. Ribecourt British Cemetery lies on the south side of the village on the D89 heading towards Villers Plouich.
