2/Lt Ben Gerald Noel Watkin, 43rd Bde Royal Field Artillery was born on 22 April 1889.
He was educated at the University College of North Wales at Bangor where he was a member of the OTC. After spending time as a professor of English in Greece, he returned upon the outbreak of war and applied for a commission, being gazetted a 2/Lt in the Special Reserve, RFA in August 1914. He left Cork (where he had been undergoing his training) on 8 January 1915 for service in France with 40th Battery, 43rd Bde RFA which he joined, near La Bassee, on 13 January. On 25 January Ben was wounded by shrapnel and died in hospital at Bethune on 27 January 1915. He is now buried in Bethune town cemetery.
27 January 1915
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
