| James Watters was the only son of David and Sarah Watters. David Watters and Sarah Gregg were married on 13th December 1882 in the district of Magherafelt.
|
| James Watters was born on 9th September 1886. He was one of either four or five children.
|
| Family: David Watters, Sarah Watters, Mary Watters (born 27th March 1883), James Watters (born 9th September 1886), Matilda / Catherine Watters (born 11th January 1888), Sarah Watters (born 10th September 1889), Lizzie Watters (born 6th January 1894).
|
| The 1901 census lists James as age 13 living with the family at house 54 in Tobermore Town, County Londonderry. His mother was a seamstress.
|
| The 1911 census lists James as age 27 living with the family at house 5 in Tobermore, Londonderry. Both he and his father were farm servants.
|
|
| James Watters married Sarah Meharg / McHarge on 25th September 1914 in the district of Magherafelt. They had two daughters, Ethel Watters (born 8th September 1915) and Tilly Watters.
|
| From other references, James is reported to have worked in a butcher's before war broke out.
|
| James enlisted in Coleraine about September 1914.
|
|
| It was reported in the local newspaper in June 1916 that Private Watters had been injured, prior to the Somme.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 10th June 1916:
|
|
| Private J Watters, Tobermore, of the Inniskillings, is also officially reported wounded.
|
| Private James Watters was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was wounded again on the first day of the Battle of the Somme on 1st July 1916.
|
| Private James Watters was taken to a field hospital where he later died.
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 29th July 1916: Cookstown Casualties
|
|
| The following local men in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers appear in Monday morning’s casualty list as wounded…. J Watters, Tobermore
|
| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 5th August 1916: Tobermore
|
|
| It has been officially notified that Private James Waters was killed in action on 1st July. The deceased leaves a wife and two small children to mourn their loss.
|
| Private Watters is buried in Warloy-Ballion Communal Cemetery Extension.
|
|
| The CWGC record Private Watters as the son of David and Sarah Watters of Tobermore. He is also recorded as the husband of Sarah Moore of Tobermore, County Derry.
|
|
