Alexander Watt was the son of Joseph and Eliza Watt. He and his twin brother George were born on 22nd January 1897 in Drumglass, Dungannon. He was one of at least of 16 children. There were a remarkable four sets of twins. Alexander enlisted in Dungannon. Private Alexander Watt was serving with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (Service Squadron), attached to 2nd Regiment, North Irish Horse. He was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme on 3rd July 1916. Private Watt has no known grave and is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial.
Further Information
Alexander Watt was the son of Joseph and Eliza Watt. Joseph Watt and Elizabeth Buchanan were married on 19th December 1879 in the district of Dungannon.
Alexander Watt and his twin brother George were born on 22nd January 1897 in Drumglass, Dungannon. He was one of at least of 16 children, 11 surviving. There were a remarkable four sets of twins.
Known family: Joseph Watt, Eliza Watt, Thomas John Watt (born 15th October 1880), Sarah Watt (born 23rd June 1883), NotCap F Watt (born 28th December 1885, twin, died 29th December 1885), NotCap F Watt (born 28th December 1885, twin, 30th December 1885), Mary Watt (born 28th May 1887, died 2nd July 1887), Eliza Lizzie Watt (born 14th June 1888), Mary Minnie Watt (born 25th April 1891), Alicia Watt (born 29th December 1892, twin), Joseph Watt (born 29th December 1892, twin), Robert William Watt (born 19th October 1894), Alexander Watt (born 22nd January 1897, twin), Georgie Watt (born 22nd January 1897, twin), Florence Watt (born 24th August 1900, twin), Gertrude Watt (born 24th August 1900, twin).
The 1901 census records Alexander as four years old, living with the family at 12 Georges Street, Dungannon. Joseph Watt’s occupation was ‘Car Owner’
The 1911 census lists Alexander as age 14 living with the family at house 10 in Georges Street, Dungannon, Tyrone. He was still at school.
Alexander attended Union Place National School.
Alexander enlisted in Dungannon.
1915
Private Alexander Watt arrived in France with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (Service Squadron) on 6th October 1915.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 21st August 1915: William Watt (brother of Alexander Watt)
Among the latest recruits in the new army is Mr Willie Watt, son of Mr Joseph Watt, George’s Street, Dungannon. He emigrated two and a half years ago and has joined the 8th Canadian Mounted Rifles, and is at present in training in Toronto. While in Dungannon he was very popular. He was an active member of the local Church Lads’ Brigade Corps and Dungannon Brass Band.
1916
From the Tyrone Courier dated 27 April 1916: Dungannon Nurse Volunteers (sister of Alexander Watt)
Nurse Sarah Watt, formerly a nurse in Dungannon District Council, who offered her services to St John Ambulance Association in March last, was called up for duty on 15th April, and is now in charge of 50 patients in a V.A.D. hospital in Wiltshire and expects to see service further afield before many months have elapsed. Nurse Watt, who is a daughter of Joseph Watt, Georges Street, Dungannon, is the fourth member of her family to offer their services to the Empire in the present national emergency, three of her brothers having already volunteered for active service. All three are in cavalry regiments, William and Alexander being at the front, the former with the Canadian Mounted Rifles and the latter with the Inniskilling Dragoons, while George is at Antrim with the North Irish Horse.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 4th May 1916: (brother of Alexander Watt)
Mr Joseph Watt, Georges Street, Dungannon, has received intimation that his third son, Trooper William Watt, Canadian Mounted Rifles, has been wounded in the side and thigh in an artillery bombardment at the front and is now in hospital in England. Trooper Watt is one of three brothers serving, while one of his sisters, Miss Sarah Watt, is nursing in a V.A.D. hospital in Wiltshire.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 5th May 1916: (brother of Alexander Watt)
Trooper William Watt, Canadian Mounted Rifles, has been severely wounded in the side and thigh, and is now in hospital in England. The third son of Mr Joseph Watt, Dungannon, he has two brothers in the service squadron of the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons and the reserve squadron of the North Irish Horse, while his elder sister, Nurse Sarah Watt, is in a Voluntary Aid Detachment (V.A.D.) hospital in Wiltshire.
Private Alexander Watt was serving with the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons (Service Squadron), attached to 2nd Regiment, North Irish Horse.
Private Watt was killed in action while bringing in wounded from the trenches at the Battle of the Somme on 3rd July 1916.
From the Tyrone Courier dated 13 July 1916:
Mr Joseph Watt, Georges Street, Dungannon, received intimation on Saturday that his son, Trooper Alexander Watt, Inniskilling Dragoons, was killed at the front. A letter from the chaplain states that the gallant soldier met his death when bringing in wounded from the trenches. A brother is in hospital suffering from wounds received at the front, and another is serving with the North Irish Horse, while a sister is nursing with the Red Cross.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916: Trooper Alexander Watt
Trooper Alexander Watt, Inniskilling Dragoons (Service Squadron), killed by shell fire while attending to wounded. He is one of three soldier sons of Mr Joseph Watt, George's Street, Dungannon.
Alexander was one of several members to of the family to offer their services in the war. William Watt was with the Canadian Mounted Rifles. George Watt was with the North Irish Horse. Alicia Watt died whilst serving with the Queen Mary's Army Auxiliary Corps. Nurse Sarah Watt also served.
Last Will and Testament
Last Will and Testament of Alexander Watt:
In the event of my death, I give whole of my property and effects to Joseph Watt, Georges Street, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, Ireland
Memorials
Private Watt has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916.
Private Alexander Watt is commemorated locally on Dungannon War Memorial and on the WWI Roll of Honour in St Anne's Church Of Ireland in Dungannon.
