Remembering John Bryan Watson Telegraphist Air Gunner Name: John Bryan Watson Rank: Leading Airman Service Number: FAA/JX 394477 Service: Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy HMS Landrail 856 Squadron Birth Date: 1924 Place of Birth: Burford Rd., Carterton, Oxfordshire Date of Death: July 19, 1944 Age at Death: 20 Memorial: Naval Memorial at Lee-On-The-Solent, Gosport, Hampshire, England Bay 5 Panel 3. John Bryan Watson was the son of John L. and Elsie Cook Watson. Bryan’s parents were married in Prestwich, Manchester in 1918 and moved to Carterton about 1920. Bryan’s father ran a smallholding and collected rents for Witney Rural District Council. He was also listed in the 1931 Carterton Trade Directory as a poultry farmer. Their only child, John Bryan Watson, was born in the March quarter of 1924 and registered at Witney, Oxfordshire. He attended Carterton Primary school. Prior to his service he was employed with Lloyds. In December 1941, John Bryan Watson, underwent basic seamanship training at HMS Glendower, Pwhelli, North Wales and decided to volunteer for Air Gunnery duties with the Fleet Air Arm. In February 1943 he joined the Telegraphist Air Gunners Course 49 at St. Vincent. He sailed to Canada on the Queen Elizabeth and arrived at the TAG School at Yarmouth in April, 1943 as part of Course 49A RCAF Station East Camp. On completion of training, he was based in turn at Machrihanish, Maydown, and Eglinton undergoing training in night submarine attacks. On July 19, 1944 during a mock night attack from Machrihanish on the west coast of Scotland, he and his crew lost their lives when their aircraft failed to pull out a dive.

Photo Credit: Frank Grant (findagrave.com)

Course 49A East Camp, Yarmouth NS Watson (back row, first on far right)