George Leslie Reid was born in Oakley Kirkcudbright, Scotland, in 1898.
The son of Dr William Swanston Spence Reid and Julia Hamilton Reid.
His father passed away on June 25th 1907, and his mother remarried to
Sir Fenwick Shadforth Watts, thus becoming Lady Watts. Sir Watts was an
extremely wealthy Shipbroker from Tynemouth.
George was educated at Ashton Grammar School for Boys and Charterhouse
School. In 1915 George went to Sandhurst, and upon completion of training, he
was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 7th Dragoons (Princess Royals).
Reid went to France on January 7th 1917. He was killed in action aged 19
on December 1st 1917, at the Battle of Cambrai. His body was never recovered,
and he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial.
As a memorial to her son, Sir & Lady Watts purchased Greyfairs
Church in Kirkcudbright. A plaque inside states that the church was gifted to
the community as a permanent memorial to George.
