Private David James Watts
The man who enlisted 3 times!
David James Watts, was one of 13 children, born in Nottage, Porthcawl on 13th June 1894 to David and Annie Watts.By the time he was 14 years old he was working as a farm labourer in nearby West Farm. In the 1911 Census he is found working at David Vaughan Thomas's 'Ty Draw Farm,' Cornelly. Being only 5ft 1ins tall, James had to wait until December 1914 for the creation of the 17th Battalion Welsh Regiment, (1st Glamorgan Bantams) before he could enlist. Unfortunately, within a 150 days or so he was discharged with having Reynard's Disease. (see discharge paper below.) His work on the farm in all weathers had affected his circulation. He was unable to hold a rifle and, therefore, deemed unsuitable to be a soldier. Not to be deterred, in July of 1915 he went to Cardiff and enlisted in the 3rd Welsh Regiment, using a different address.It is believed that his father , widowed,having married again had moved, in the meantime, to a different address.Once again within a hundred days or so he was discharged with Reynard's Disease.
To be honest, I , the researcher, thought that was the end of the story, BUT , in the Porthcawl Museum archives I found the Porthcawl Urban District Council Certificate presented to everyone or their families who had served in the First World War.This certificate (see below) revealed that David James Watts had not only managed to join the South Wales Borderers but had seen action on the Somme, Cambrai and Ploegsteert. He had served for 3 years and had been burnt by fire liquid at Cambrai. What a determined hero!
The confirmation of all that I had found arrived a month ago in the form of his granddaughter, Sarah Wren. She told me of how her grandfather had no feeling in his arm due to being burnt at Cambrai. Apparently, he could add coal to a fire without using tongs!
David James Watts married Rachel Davies in 1921. He died on 14th June 1967, from a brain haemorrhage,aged 73 years old.
To be honest, I , the researcher, thought that was the end of the story, BUT , in the Porthcawl Museum archives I found the Porthcawl Urban District Council Certificate presented to everyone or their families who had served in the First World War.This certificate (see below) revealed that David James Watts had not only managed to join the South Wales Borderers but had seen action on the Somme, Cambrai and Ploegsteert. He had served for 3 years and had been burnt by fire liquid at Cambrai. What a determined hero!
The confirmation of all that I had found arrived a month ago in the form of his granddaughter, Sarah Wren. She told me of how her grandfather had no feeling in his arm due to being burnt at Cambrai. Apparently, he could add coal to a fire without using tongs!
David James Watts married Rachel Davies in 1921. He died on 14th June 1967, from a brain haemorrhage,aged 73 years old.
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