William Victor Watkins Gunner 1721607 183 (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery
Died 15th September 1944
Bill was a son of Herbert and Maud Watkins of Itton. He lived at ‘Stonycroft’, Bayfield with his wife Florence and their three children. He is remembered as a warm family man typical of Monmouthshire.
Bill joined the Royal Artillery in November 1940 and served in Gibraltar, Malta and North Africa. He was injured and sent to the apparent safety of a Military Hospital at Folkestone. Unfortunately this was within range of the German heavy artillery – they were firing shells straight across the English Channel – and William was injured and died later in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Folkstone.
Bill was 35 years of age and was buried back home in Mounton Churchyard. Florence and the children moved in with her sister down at ‘The Glen’, Mounton, for a time and later moved back up to Bayfield.
Bill Watkins marries Florence King