James Laverick Watson

Bank: National Provincial Bank of England

Place of work: South Shields branch

Died: 29 April 1917

James Laverick Watson was born on 9 May 1897, the son of a quarry owner and manager. He was educated at South Shields High School. In July 1913, when he was 16 years old, he went to work for National Provincial Bank of England as an apprentice at its Guisborough branch. In August 1914 he transferred to South Shields branch.

During the First World War Watson joined the army, and by 1917 he was a Second Lieutenant in the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 29 April 1917. He was 19 years old, and was reported to have been the 100th member of National Provincial's staff to die in the war.