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Private Henry Benzie “Harry” Wattie
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Private Henry Benzie “Harry” Wattie Famous memorial Veteran

Birth
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh, Scotland
Death
1 Jul 1916 (aged 25)
Ovillers-la-Boisselle, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France
Monument
Thiepval, Departement de la Somme, Picardie, France Add to Map
Plot
Pier and Face 6 D and 7 D.
Memorial ID
View Source
Professional Footballer. He played football in the Scottish Football League First Division most notably for the Heart of Midlothian Football Club or Heart of Midlothian F.C. of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born one of ten children as Henry Benzie Wattie to William James Wattie (1844-1915), and his wife Janet Benzie "Jessie" Wattie (1848-1927), in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 3, 1891. His siblings included Robert Wattie (1868-1868), Annie Wattie (1868-1928), Margaret John "Maggie" Wattie (1870-1965), James Benzie Wattie (1875-1938), William Alexander Wattie (1877-1963), Agnes Cromer Wattie (1879-1964), Robert Wattie (1882-1912), John Wattie (1884-1972), Mary Alice Wattie (1887-1913), and Louisa Wattie (1889-1974). He also had a half-sibling named Mary Wattie (1865-1939). The youngest of his family, he was educated locally and attended Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh, Scotland. Following his education, he began playing professional football in the Scottish Football League First Division with the Heart of Midlothian Club or Heart of Midlothian F.C. of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1913. His total professional football career by club, season, and competition consists of 57 Apps, 17 Goals in the League, 1 Apps and O Goals in the Scottish Cup, and 58 Apps and 17 Goals in Total. His professional football career lasted from 1913 to 1914, and from 1914 to 1915. He also played professionally for the Tranent Football Club, a Scottish football club based in the town of Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. Following his professional football career, he decided to serve his country and fought with the Territorial Force for four years during World War I, which was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, which was created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. He also enlisted with the rank of Private with the Royal Scots, 16th Battalion or McCrae's Battalion, which was an affectionate name given by the people of Edinburgh, Scotland, to the 16th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Scots in World War I, raised from volunteers in 1914 as part of the New Armies called to the Colours by Colonel Henry Elliott Chevallier Kitchener, 2nd Earl Kitchener (1846-1937). The unit was named after its charismatic colonel, former Liberal Member of Parliament or MPP for Edinburgh East, Colonel Sir George McCrae (1860-1928). He was killed during the Capture of La Boisselle on the first day on the Somme near Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France, during World War I, on July 1, 1916. At the time of his death, he was only 23 years old. He was lost at war and his body has never been found. Due to this, he has no actual final resting place. He is however commemorated on Pier and Face 6 D and 7 D of the Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France. He never married nor had any children.
Professional Footballer. He played football in the Scottish Football League First Division most notably for the Heart of Midlothian Football Club or Heart of Midlothian F.C. of Edinburgh, Scotland. He was born one of ten children as Henry Benzie Wattie to William James Wattie (1844-1915), and his wife Janet Benzie "Jessie" Wattie (1848-1927), in Edinburgh, Scotland, on June 3, 1891. His siblings included Robert Wattie (1868-1868), Annie Wattie (1868-1928), Margaret John "Maggie" Wattie (1870-1965), James Benzie Wattie (1875-1938), William Alexander Wattie (1877-1963), Agnes Cromer Wattie (1879-1964), Robert Wattie (1882-1912), John Wattie (1884-1972), Mary Alice Wattie (1887-1913), and Louisa Wattie (1889-1974). He also had a half-sibling named Mary Wattie (1865-1939). The youngest of his family, he was educated locally and attended Boroughmuir High School in Edinburgh, Scotland. Following his education, he began playing professional football in the Scottish Football League First Division with the Heart of Midlothian Club or Heart of Midlothian F.C. of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1913. His total professional football career by club, season, and competition consists of 57 Apps, 17 Goals in the League, 1 Apps and O Goals in the Scottish Cup, and 58 Apps and 17 Goals in Total. His professional football career lasted from 1913 to 1914, and from 1914 to 1915. He also played professionally for the Tranent Football Club, a Scottish football club based in the town of Tranent, East Lothian, Scotland. Following his professional football career, he decided to serve his country and fought with the Territorial Force for four years during World War I, which was a part-time volunteer component of the British Army, which was created in 1908 to augment British land forces without resorting to conscription. He also enlisted with the rank of Private with the Royal Scots, 16th Battalion or McCrae's Battalion, which was an affectionate name given by the people of Edinburgh, Scotland, to the 16th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Scots in World War I, raised from volunteers in 1914 as part of the New Armies called to the Colours by Colonel Henry Elliott Chevallier Kitchener, 2nd Earl Kitchener (1846-1937). The unit was named after its charismatic colonel, former Liberal Member of Parliament or MPP for Edinburgh East, Colonel Sir George McCrae (1860-1928). He was killed during the Capture of La Boisselle on the first day on the Somme near Ovillers-la-Boisselle, France, during World War I, on July 1, 1916. At the time of his death, he was only 23 years old. He was lost at war and his body has never been found. Due to this, he has no actual final resting place. He is however commemorated on Pier and Face 6 D and 7 D of the Thiepval Memorial in Thiepval, France. He never married nor had any children.

Bio by: The Silent Forgotten


Inscription

ROYAL SCOTS
PRIVATE
WATTIE H.

Gravesite Details

Final resting place unknown. Name listed on the Memorial


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