Alexander G Watson No 9 Commando

Have only recently discovered this relative whilst researching my family tree on ancestry. I have spent weeks researching No 9 commandos and the training they underwent. Had no idea these units even existed previously. Alexander is listed as being accidentally killed whilst training on the 20th October 1941 aged only 21. Can anyone give me a possible insight as to the nature of his death ? Was there a particular field of training with relatively high numbers of accidents/deaths. Also, he was taken to Dumfries Royal Infirmary, where he sadly passed away, was that a military hospital at the time as I am thinking surely there would have been a closer one.

Hi manufan,

No.9 Cdo were at Kirkcudbright during Sept/Oct '41 - although at least one Troop at a time was on detachment at Castle Douglas...
The official War Diary for No.9 Cdo, during the month of Oct, shows three entries where 3311891 Private Alexander Watson, H.L.I. (Highland Light Infantry) is mentioned...
Unfortunately the nature of the accident nor the findings of the Court of Inquiry are recorded.

Nick

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 11/09/2021 13:21:33

The Statutory Death Register (821/485) records Alexander's cause of death as "Traumatic rupture of the spleen."
Good luck with your research
Guy

Thank you both for sharing this information with me and for taking the time to reply. It is very much appreciated

So after some research and thinking Alexander may have sadly lost his life during training, I have discovered the cause of his death. I have a photo of him and a photo of a local newspaper article explaining the details of his death.

Hi Manufan ( sorry I don?t know your name)
We have 2 entries for your relative. Neither however show how he met his death just that it was an accident. So thank you for details in the newspaper which I will add to the ROH entry.
The Roll of Honour:
https://www.commandoveterans.org/AlexanderWatson9Commando

The Gallery (a photo I took of his grave a few years ago): https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/Commando+War+Graves+Memorials+and+Plaques/graves/UK/A+G+Watson+9+cdo.jpg.html

Can you advise me of the name of the newspaper and date of the article.
Also the photo you posted is extremely small in resolution. Do you have a higher resolution copy of it ?
Pete

Hi Pete thanks for your reply. My name is Karen btw.

I found this article on the British Newspapers Archive website. The article was in the Dumfries & Galloway Standard & Advertiser, dated October 25th 1941. I took a photo off the screen to send to a relative but also downloaded the full page as a PDF, which I have now attached. Hope this may be a bit better.

Hi Karen
Thanks for the newspaper. It is the actual photo of Alexander that is only 3kb in size so tiny. Do you have a higher resolution one ?
Pete

Oh I'm sorry that is the best I can do I think. Tried to make it a bit bigger but dont think its worked

Hi Karen
That is much better thank you. I have updated the ROH Page as you will see below and added the full size to the No.9 Commando gallery with links on there to his ROH page and his grave here: https://gallery.commandoveterans.org/cdoGallery/v/units/9/?g2_page=3

ROH page: https://www.commandoveterans.org/AlexanderWatson9Commando

If you wish your surname included I will add that to both.
Pete