Watson, John Fletcher

JOHN WATSON died at sea on December 4th, 1942, and was buried with full military honors. He left with his comrades with his heart set on the work he was to have done, and though it was not his lot to accomplish it, he nevertheless gave his life for the ideal which had made him voluntarily leave his wife and family. In the short time we knew him, he had already made an impression on all of us. The Field Service is built on examples of devotion such as Watson had, and in cherishing his memory we will realise that such a spirit as his can not die.

__ AFS Letters No. 10

At about this time was received the sad news of the death of a member of Unit 33 en route to the Middle East. John Fletcher Watson had died of pneumonia at sea on 4 December 1942 and was buried with full military honors. He had left his wife and family with his heart set on the work he was to have done. Though it was not his lot to accomplish it, he nevertheless gave his life for his ideals. The American Field Service is built on examples of such devotion.

__ George Rock. Chapter 5. "Middle East 3. El Alamein to Tunis (October 1942 to May 1943)" History of the American Field Service, 1920-1955. New York 1956.