Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of the Reverend Alexander Law Watherston and Emily Mary Watherston (nee Fell). The 1901 census records, Alexander L. Watherston, Head of the family and a Clergyman (Church of England) and Schoolmaster, born 1845 in Kensington, London, and his wife Emily M., born 1852 in Clapham, London. The children were Edith F., a Governess, born 1873 in Sedbergh, Yorkshire, Mary K. F., a School Mistress, born 1882 in Bowdon, Cheshire, Geoffrey F., born 1884 in Hinckley, Leicester, Olive F., born 1889 in Hinckley, Leicestershire, Robert J. H. F., born 1891 in Hinckley, Leicestershire and Christopher F., born 1893 in Hinckley, Leicestershire. The family were residing at The Grammar School, Butt Lane, Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire. The 1911 census records, Robert Watherston, a Theological Student residing at the College of the Resurrection, Mirfield, Yorkshire. On the 31st January 1920 the Wyggeston Grammar School for Boys in Leicester published a Roll of Honour in which Robert is shown to have been a pupil at the school between the years 1905 and 1906. The War Diary for today records. TRENCHES CAMBRIN RIGHT. Weather very cold and frosty. Enemy fairly quiet until midday, from then onwards he bombarded B Coy’s trenches at intervals until dark with heavy trench mortars. Considerable difficulty found in obtaining artillery support which was most unsatisfactory. Lt C. S. ALLEN went to advanced Intelligence course, duties assumed by Lt J. C. BARRETT. At 6.45pm small party of enemy crept close up to, and rushed our Lewis gun post in NEW CUT TRENCH. Lt WATHERSTON fearing the worse rushed back, he had just visited the post, and attacked the enemy with his revolver, he fired three rounds but was shot through the head and killed instantaneously. The soldier with the gun was wounded with a bomb and the Corporal in charge blown into a sap. The Lewis gun was taken and the enemy got away, apparently undamaged. There seems to have been little or no wire round this post and the enemy was able to creep close up without being heard. The ground all round is broken and the field of fire in his direction more than 30 yards. A Lewis gun and team of D Coy sent up to replace the one lost, occupied new position about 50 yards further west with improved field of fire. Frosts.