John Watson was born on 12 May 1889 at Leith, Midlothian, Scotland, the son of Barbara Watson. From 1 October 1904 to 22 April 1905, he served as a Deck Boy & Ordinary Seaman in the LIVINGSTONE. He signed Indentures for a four-year apprenticeship on 20 June 1905 and then served as an Apprentice and Able Seaman in the ELGINSHIRE, SS HUELVA, SS BERWINDMOOR & SS ATBARA. In 1915 he was the First Mate in the Merchant Ship BERWINDMOOR.

He joined the Royal Navy as a Temporary Sub Lieutenant, RNR on 6 September 1915 and was appointed to the sloop HMS JESSAMINE on 13 October 1915. This was followed by an appointment to HMS COLLEEN on 1 December 1915.

He was promoted to Acting Lieutenant, RNR on 19 March 1916 and, on 17 June 1916, he was appointed to HMS G8 as Navigating Officer. He was promoted Lieutenant, RNR on 28 August 1916. John Watson was Mentioned in Dispatches (London Gazette of 2 November 1917) ‘for assistance in plotting an attack on an enemy submarine on 23 July 1917’. G8 was lost with all hands in the North Sea on 14 January 1918. The cause of the loss has not been established.

John Watson who is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel No. 30.