Bungy Watson

James Henry Digby "Bungy" Watson (31 August 1890 – 15 October 1914) was an English rugby union player. He won 3 caps for England, all in the 1914 Five Nations Championship. He was killed while serving as a surgeon aboard HMS Hawke when it was torpedoed and sunk by U-9 in 1914 during World War I, and is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.

Bungy Watson
Birth nameJames Henry Digby Watson
Date of birth(1890-08-13)13 August 1890
Place of birthSouthsea, England
Date of death15 October 1914(1914-10-15) (aged 24)
Place of deathHMS Hawke, Atlantic Ocean
School
UniversityUniversity of Edinburgh
Occupation(s)Physician
Rugby union career
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1914  England 3 3
----
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Navy
RankSurgeon
UnitHMS Hawke
MemorialsChatham Naval Memorial

Early life

Watson was born on 31 August 1890 at Southsea to Eliza V. Watson and her husband Captain James Herbert Watson, an engineer in the Royal Navy. He attended The King's School, Canterbury from September 1899 to April 1906, and played for the First XV in 1905. He then transferred to Edinburgh Academy for his final two years of schooling, playing for the First XV there too. There he earned his nickname "Bungy" after using the King's Canterbury term for a rubber, which was unknown at the Academy.[1] He then studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh from 1908 to 1913, graduating Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery. At University, he played for the University Rugby XV, and was also the University middleweight boxing champion.[1]

Rugby career

International appearances
Opposition Score Result Date Venue Ref(s)
 Wales10–9Won17 January 1914Twickenham[2]
 Scotland15–16Won21 March 1914Inverleith[3]
 France13–39Won13 April 1914Colombes[4]

Military service
HMS Hawke

At the start of the World War I, Watson was appointed Surgeon in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Hawke. The ship was part of the Northern Patrol, and on 15 October 1914, Hawke and HMS Theseus were patrolling in the North Sea, 60 miles off Aberdeen when a torpedo launched by the German submarine U-9 struck the Hawke amidships. The impact detonated the ship's magazine and caused two large explosions. The ship sank quickly with the loss of 525 men, including Watson.[1]

He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, at Twickenham war memorial, and at Blackheath.[1]

See also
  • List of international rugby union players killed in action during the First World War

References
  1. Nick Cole. "King's Canterbury Roll of Honour".
  2. "England v Wales".
  3. "Scotland v England".
  4. "France v England".

Bibliography
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