Edwin Watson (footballer) explained

Edwin Watson
Birth Date:1914 5, df=y
Birth Place:Pittenweem, Scotland
Death Place:Bay of Biscay, off Brest, German-occupied France
Position:Forward
Youthclubs1:Markinch Victoria
Youthclubs2:Dunnikier
Youthclubs3:Crossgates Primrose
Years1:1936–1937
Years2:1937–1938
Clubs3:Bradford Park Avenue
Caps2:3
Goals1:6
Goals2:0

Edwin Watson (28 May 1914 – 12 June 1944) was a professional footballer, who played for Partick Thistle, Huddersfield Town and Bradford Park Avenue. He was killed in the Second World War. He was born in Pittenweem, Fife, Scotland.

Military service and death

Watson served as a flight sergeant in No. 201 Squadron RAF of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve during the Second World War. He is known to have served on two missions as an air gunner on a Short Sunderland III conducting anti-submarine sweeps from RAF Pembroke Dock over the Bay of Biscay. On 7 June 1944, Watson's Sunderland located off Cape Ortegal, Spain and sunk it with depth charges, killing all 50 crew on board the U-boat.

Five days later, on 12 June 1944, the Sunderland encountered, and conducted depth charge raids on it. The Sunderland is thought to have been shot down by flak from the submarine's anti-aircraft guns during the attack, killing everybody on board, including Watson. His body was not recovered from the wreckage, and he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.[1] [2] In 2021, he was added to the Huddersfield Town 'roll of honour'.[3]

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Short Sunderland III: 12 June 1944 . aviation-safety.net . 21 February 2020.
  2. Web site: Sunderland III ML760 . aircrewremembered.com . 21 February 2020.
  3. https://www.htafc.com/news/2021/june/14th-name-added-to-towns-roll-of-honour/ 14th name added to Town's 'roll of honour'