Bertie Watson (SN 4335) was born at Ballarat but was a 19 year old labourer at Pomonal when he enlisted on July 27th 1915. He trained with Castlemaine’s 20th Depot Battalion before embarking on the Demosthenes on December 29th 1915. While in Egypt he was hospitalised suffering from influenza but once recovered he moved on to France to serve with the 5th Battalion. He was wounded in action on three separate occasions and was twice evacuated to hospital in England. On the third occasion, September 20th 1917, he suffered multiple gunshot wounds and after treatment in England it was decided he should return to Australia. He returned home aboard the Karoola and was discharged on April 20th 1918.