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Four brothers killed in Great War

The sacrifice of the Watherston family is considered one of the greatest regarding Australia's involvement in the Great War.


Their tragic story, however, starts in 1896 where a strong westerly wind is blowing across the waters just off Boston Island, near Port Lincoln, South Australia. In a flat-bottomed boat, heading to a cutter, is married couple James and Isabella Watherston with one of their five sons.


James and Isabella Watherston. Courtesy Findagrave.


A heavy sea strikes their small dingy and it capsizes, sending the three occupants overboard. The younger and more energetic son manages to make his way to shore but sadly, James and Isabella drown. Their bodies are found clinging to each other and the boat when it washes to shore.


With this tragedy, nine children are left orphaned. They are Robert, Isabella, James, Edith, Edward, Cyril, Catherine and baby Christina. A 10th child, Cranston, had died back in 1886 at the age of two. The couple had married 18 years previously, in 1878. They had owned property around Port Lincoln and were a well respected couple and family.


Courtesy Findagrave
Courtesy Findagrave

Fast forward to a new century and the Great War is raging overseas. Four of the Watherston boys sign up to fight for their newly-formed country. The first to sign up was Edward, in August 1914 and he left Adelaide with the 10th Battalion.


The second to follow was Frank in September and he joined the 11th Battalion in Western Australia. Cyril followed the next month and joined the 7th Light Horse Brigade.


Frank was sent to Gallipoli where he received gunshot wounds and when finally transported to the 1st Australian Stationary Hospital on Lemnos Island, he died on July 4th, 1915. Frank's body is buried in Greece in the East Mudros Military Cemetery.

Frank Watherson. Courtesy Findagrave
Frank Watherson. Courtesy Findagrave

By this stage, the fourth brother to enlist, who was married with children, was James who signed up in October 1915. He would have known by then that Frank had been killed. Despite that, he was assigned to the 13/12th Infantry Battalion.


The following year, in June 1916, Cyril, as a driver, is killed in action in the field in France. He was buried at the military cemetery, Rue du Bois in Armentieres, France.


The tragedy continued to unfold as only two months after Cyril's death Edward was reported missing in the field in France. He would not be declared dead until the following year, after a court of enquiry. There was no evidence of a body.

Cyril Watherston, Courtesy Findagrave
Cyril Watherston, Courtesy Findagrave

James would also go missing in action in August of 1916 while in France. Again, it would not be until a court of enquiry had been held that he would be declared dead a year later. Unlike Edward, however, his body must have been found, as there is evidence he was buried in the Courcelette British Cemetery, Albert, France.


One can only imagine the heartache the sisters, remaining brother and wife of James suffered as the telegrams kept coming. To rub salt into a failed hope, it would not be confirmed until 1917 that all four brothers had died.


References

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