Born at Waltham Cross Hertfordshire in 1898, only child of Frederick Russell Watson and Mary Laurie Watson. His mother died in 1899. Frederick was a Wesleyan Methodist Minister, born in Durham, who served at the Derby Road Church from 1917 to 1922. He married Winifred Hollington in 1905 after the death of his wife, and he died in 1948.
1901: Keith was with his father at 186 Plachet Grove, East Ham, along with his aunt Annie Watson. 1911: The family, now with stepmother Winifred, had moved to 54 Oakfield Street, Cardiff, Wales.
Having completed his education at Kingswood School Bath, Keith was employed by Messrs Hollington Brothers, wholesale clothiers. On his death, his home was shown as 8 Eglin Road, Croydon.
He enlisted in December 1915, and was Killed in Action near Cambrai during the advance in Picardy and Artois. Initially reported wounded, that was the fourth time he had sustained injury during the war.
It was during Frederick’s time at Woodford that his son Keith was killed, and hence his name appears on the memorial. It is unclear whether Keith was ever a resident at the Manse in Derby Road.
He is also remembered on the Croydon Roll of Honour.
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Woodford Times