Herbert Watts

Sir Herbert Watts
Born 1858
Died 15 October 1934
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Lieutenant-General
Commands held 7th Infantry Division
XIX Corps
Battles/wars World War I
Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Edward Watts KCB KCMG (1858 - 15 October 1934) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding 7th Division during World War I.

Military career

Educated at The King's School, Peterborough and at Tours,[1] Watts was commissioneed into the 14th Regiment of Foot in 1880 and commanded the 2nd Battalion in 1904.[2] Watts commanded No. 9 District in Eastern Command from 1910.[1] He also served in World War I as General Officer Commanding 7th Division from September 1915[3] and then for a few days in July 1916 as General Officer Commanding 38th (Welsh) Division - under Watts, the 38th division successfully took its objective, Mametz Wood, though with severe losses;[4] within a week, Watts was back in command of 7th Division.[5] In February 1917 he became General Officer Commanding the XIX Corps.[2]

He unveiled the War Memorial at Mitcham in Surrey in 1920.[6]

Family

In 1896 he married Elizabeth Alice Helena Daly.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b The county families of the United Kingdom or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (Volume ed.59, yr.1919) by Edward Walford, p.374
  2. ^ a b The Kirkpatrick Family Archives
  3. ^ Army Commands
  4. ^ Farr, p. 106
  5. ^ Farr, p. 114
  6. ^ Roll of Honour - Mitcham
  7. ^ The Peerage.com
Military offices
Preceded by
Thompson Capper		 General Officer Commanding the 7th Division
September 1915–January 1917		 Succeeded by
George Barrow
Preceded by
New Post		 General Officer Commanding XIX Corps
February 1917–November 1918		 Succeeded by
Post Disbanded