This collection consists of a photo album of Basil Watson. It chronicles his life of graduation from Madrid High School in 1938 to his life at the Plattsburgh Military Base and Pine Camp (now Fort Drum). The end of the album contains photographs taken at Ohrdurf - Nord and Buchenwald concentration camps. These photographs are graphic in nature.
World War II MPs.
Collection Overview
Basil Watson (1919-1970) a native of Madrid, NY served in the United States Army from October of 1940 to January of 1946 in Company 2nd Battalion 358th Infantry. While in the military Basil held 3 ranks from Private, Private First Class, and Technical Sergeant. His last rank in the military was Administrative N.C.O.: Basil was assigned to a military police unit and worked in Provost Marshall Office of the 3rd Army. Mr. Watson supervised 5 men and was responsible of office handlings such as prisoner of war camps, civilian internment camps and displaced persons. It was while in this position Basil toured one of the infamous internment camps, Buchenwald and its sub-camp, Ohrdruf-Nord. After 5 years of service Basil was given honorary discharge from the United Stated Army. Prior to his military service, he attended Clarkson University for a year and completed his degree in engineering at Canton ATC in 1948. Basil married Gloria McConnell in 1949 and led an active life participating in the Masonic Lodge 383, Madrid Methodist Church, and the Madrid Volunteer Fire Department.