Sergeant
George [Thomas] William WATERMAN
MM
Infantry
Died: 22nd June 1918 - Age: 33

Commemorated:

1. Grave:Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery ExtensionV. A. 9.
2. Book:The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918Pg.138
3. Memorial:The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour13D GQS
    

Awards & Titles:

Military Medal
British War Medal
Victory Medal
 

Early Life :

There is a reconciliation problem in this legend. The 1921 Book, The Masonic Roll of Honour records an entry for him as a G.W. Waterman and indeed one can be found in the records of Merchant Navy Lodge -George William. Unfortunately, it has proved impossible to find a good match until further investigation reveals that he may have changed his name slightly, from George "Thomas" Waterman. The masonic record proves that he was resident at 24, Oriental Street, Limehouse working as a "Draughtsman", just after the 1911 census at his initiation.

According to that recent census, the only person resident there, living with his wife is a "Builder's Clerk," called George Thomas Waterman, who enlisted and died in Italy during the Great War, tieing in with the masonic record.

What is left of his family, father and two sisters live in the same street, no. 17, Oriental Street. It is unlikely that his mother and father would have named two of their children "George", and retrospective census checks can find no-one by the name of George William.

It is highly unusual to be duplicitous in this manner when stating your name in Freemasonry, but for the present time, unless any other evidence is provided, the project is confident that this soldier should be George Thomas Waterman, and this is his legend.

Family :

Son of Thomas George Walter Waterman and Mary Waterman, of 17, Oriental Street, Limehouse, London.

He married Lilian Edith Peppercorn at St. Anne's Church, Limehouse on Boxing Day, 1906. They were both resident at 634 Commercial Road.

Service Life:

Campaigns:

Unit / Ship / Est.: 4th Battalion Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 

1/4th Battalion August 1914 : in Oxford. Part of South Midland Brigade in South Midland Division. 30 March 1915 : landed at Boulogne. 15 May 1915 : formation became the 145th Brigade in 48th (South Midland) Division. November 1917 : moved with the Division to Italy.

Action : Italy (1914-1918) 

Following the collapse of the Italian Front in late 1917 a number of British Divisions were sent to Italy to support and stabilise the Italian effort. In March 1918, XIV Corps (the 7th, 23rd and 48th Divisions) relieved Italian troops on the front line between Asiago and Canove, the front being held by two divisions with one division in reserve on the plain. The French held the line to the left, with the Italians to the right.

The front was comparatively quiet until the Austrians attacked in force from Grappa to Canove in the Battle of Asiago (15-16 June 1918). The Allied line was penetrated to a depth of about 1,000 metres on 15 June but the lost ground was retaken the next day and the line re-established. Between June and September, frequent successful raids were made on the Austrian trenches.

In October, the 7th and 23rd Divisions were sent to the Treviso area of the River Piave front. The 48th Division, which remained in the mountains as part of the Italian Sixth Army, played an important part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto (24 October-4 November 1918) in which the Austrians were finally defeated. By late 1918 the danger had passed and many of the British troops returned to the Western Front.

Detail :

Enlisted at Stepney. Formerly 3138, R. Bucks Hussars, M.M. and to the present 202555 4th Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He is listed as a Corporal on the Soldiers Effects register, but he is recorded as Lance-Sergeant or Sergeant in others.

The 1/4th Battalion, Ox and Bucks and 1/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion were part of the 145th (South Midland) Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division that left the Western Front for the Italian Front in November 1917—which had been a member of the Allies since May 1915—after she suffered very heavy casualties at the Battle of Caporetto. The regiment and the rest of the British forces did not take part in a major battle until June 1918 when they participated in the Battle of Asiago (15–16 June), that saw the Austro-Hungarians—an ally of Germany—successfully defeated in their offensive against the Allies; it was the last Austro-Hungarian offensive against Italy. On 23 October the Allies launched a successful offensive against Austria-Hungary, with the regiment crossing the Piave River, taking part in the Battle of Vittorio Veneto. The Austro-Hungarians signed an Armistice with the Allies on 4 November 1918 and the 1/4th Ox and Bucks and 1/1st Buckinghamshires ended the war in Austria-Hungary.

He died of Wounds and pneumonia as a result of action at the Battle of Asiago.

Masonic :

TypeLodge Name and No.Province/District :
Mother : Merchant Navy No. 781 E.C.London

Initiated
Passed
Raised
9th May 1911
10th October 1911
14th November 1911
 

Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :

UGLE records show war service and annotated "Killed in Action 1918." Contributions shown up to 1916 WS for 1917 & 1918.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

Additional Source:

Last Updated: 2019-09-07 06:01:30