Cause of Death: Septicaemia
Location: Toronto, Ontario

BX June 9, 1916

Lieutenant Robert Edward Watts Died in Toronto – Young Son of County Clerk A.E. Watts Succumbed to Scarlet Fever

Lieut. Robert E. Watts of the 84th Overseas Battalion died in Toronto last evening from scarlet fever. Never of a robust nature, the months of hard training in preparing to do his share in the Empire’s struggle taxed his vitality and he failed to rally from an attack of scarlet fever, which laid him up some time ago.

Lieut. Watts was a son of A.E. Watts, K.C., county clerk and treasurer. He joined the 84th Overseas Battalion in August 1915. Lieut. Watts belonged to the University Corps of the Canadian Field Engineers during the period of his attendance at the S.P.S., Toronto University, from which he graduated in 1913, and on his receiving his appointment as field engineer on the new Welland Ship Canal works, he joined the 19th Regiment at St. Catharines.

When Lieut. Watts was still connected with the 19th Regiment, he received the command of the men contributed by St. Catharines to the 84th Battalion, which was being raised by Lieut.-Col. Stewart. Lieut. Watts spent the winter in this, his home town, with the battalion, and had only been in Toronto a short time when stricken with scarlet fever.

He leaves to mourn his loss, besides his father and mother, two sisters, Misses Marion and Winifred at home. The funeral, which will be with military honors, will take place tomorrow morning to the Union Station, Toronto, and the body will be sent here via T.H. and B. arriving in the city at 12.32 (city time). The members of the 84th Battalion will accompany the remains to the station at Toronto. A funeral service will be held at Grace Church here at 3 p.m.

BX June 10, 1916

To Attend Funeral

A special meeting of the County Council has been called for this afternoon. As a mark of respect for their esteemed treasurer, who has suffered the loss of his son, Lieutenant Robert Edward Watts, the councilors will attend the funeral in body.
 
BX June 12, 1916

Resolutions of Sympathy Passed – Brant County Council Condoled With Clerk A.W. Watts and Family of A. Wright 

At a special meeting of the County Council held on Saturday afternoon, two resolutions relative to the deaths of Lieutenant Robert Edward Watts, son of County Clerk A.E. Watts, and High County Constable Alexander Wright, were passed. Township Clerk J.A. Smith acted as clerk at the meeting. The resolutions were as follows:

“Moved by Thomas Evans, seconded by R.J. Aitken, that this council desires to place on record their deep regret at the death of Lieutenant R.E. Watts. His early response to the call of his country and his death while equipping himself to properly serve her, entitled him to the same regard as those whose lives have been given on their country’s altar while actually fighting her foes. His courage in responding as he did and the desire he manifested during his last illness to return to his duties is evidence of courage and devotion, which will be an inspiration that will radiate further than can be calculated. May this knowledge be a consolation to his bereaved parents and family, to whom this council on behalf of its individual members and the municipality it represents tenders its most heartfelt sympathy.”

BX June 12, 1916

Impressively Laid at Rest – Remains of Lieutenant Robert Edward Watts Received Fitting Military Internment

A Military Funeral

With full military honors the remains of the late Lt. Robert E. Watts of the 84th Overseas Battalion one of Brantford’s khaki-clad officers, who lived not to see the battlefields of Europe, were laid to rest Saturday afternoon in Farringdon cemetery. Lieutenant Robert E. Watts died in Toronto on Thursday from scarlet fever. In his death the battalion, as the time approaches for it to go overseas loses one of its brightest young officers. 

Both in Toronto and here Lt. Watts was honored in death by his comrades, with impressive ceremonies. It is doubtful if in the history of Brantford a more impressive military funeral has ever been seen. At Grace Church where the services were held and along the city streets through which the cortege passed hundreds of citizens with devoutly bowed heads paid the last respects to an officer who was animated with the right spirit, but for whom providence willed otherwise.

The remains arrived in the city over the T.H. and B. Railway from Toronto at 12.32. They were accompanied from Toronto by the deceased’s commanding officer, Lt.-Col. W.T. Stewart, Capt. Duggan, Captains Collins and Lee, Lieutenants Howcroft, Bartle, Gilmour and Mickleborough and the chaplain, Capt. G.M. Barrow. From the station the remains were taken direct to Grace Church.

In Toronto “C” Company, in which he was a subaltern, accompanied by the brass band, marched with the body to the station. The ceremony in Toronto was very impressive, the band playing the “Dead March in Saul” through the city streets. The body was placed on the train at Sunnyside station at 9.37.

At 3 o’clock the last services were most impressively rendered in Grace Church by Capt. G.M. Barrow, the chaplain, and Ven. Archdeacon Mackenzie. Amongst the mourners in the church were his bereaved father and sisters, officers of the 84th Battalion from Toronto, and the officers of the 125th and 215th Battalions, as well as many of his friends and acquaintances.

It was just three o’clock when the 125th Battalion marched up and took their position in front of the church. The officers then filed down to the front of the church. Directly in front was the coffin, which was draped in a Union Jack, there resting on it his belt, sword and cap and a profusion of flowers. Chaplain Barrow immediately commenced the impressive service which is prepared for military funerals.

After the ceremony had been concluded, with the 125th Battalion leading, the sad procession wended its way to the Farringdon cemetery via Brant Avenue, Colborne and Oxford Streets. Following the battalion was the firing party with reversed arms. They were followed by the band and the chaplain. Behind the band, which played “The Dead March in Saul,” was the gun carriage drawn by men in khaki. On either side were the pallbearers.

Immediately behind the gun carriage were Lt.-Col. Stewart and Capt. Duggan. In the first carriage were the father and sisters of the deceased and then, in a large number of carriages, many prominent citizens, including the members of the County Council, court house officials, Judge Hardy, Ex-Mayor Spence, J.H. Fisher, M.P., of Paris, and numerous others.

At the cemetery, the battalion lined up along side of the road and faced inwards. The firing party halted close to the gate and rested with reversed arms while the body, followed by the mourners, went through to the grave. With the exception of the firing party, all removed their headgear during the service. Following the reading of the burial service, the firing party fired three volleys over the grave and the bugles sounded the “Last Post.”

The pallbearers were brother officers of the deceased from the 84th Battalion, Captains Collin and Lee and Lieutenants Howcroft, Bartle, Gilmour and Mickleborough. The streets from Grace Church to the Lorne Bridge were thronged with people as the sad procession passed on its solemn duty.