Extracts and Comments
(from Sources as shown) | |
Murray: WATTS BAG, 4VIB with 5VMR from about 22.6.1901-6.5.1902.
5VMR QSA Roll: WATTS Berham, Right Wing Queen's South Africa medal and 4 clasps (CC OFS Tvl & Rhod.), attached from Commander in Chief's Body Guard.
Roe: WATTS Bertram AG 4VIB.
URL1: not found in WO127 CiCBG roll.
URL2: sailed from Port Natal for Albany aboard the 'Custodian' 3.4.1902.
Droogleever: Bertram Alexander Gordon.
URL3: 5VMR photos.
Source:# 1578 WATTS, Bertram Alexander Gordon was killed in France 10.4.1917 while serving with the 4 Field Artillery and with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, 37 years and was interred Vauix Hill Cemetery, Vauix, Picardie, France. His Attestation shows his wife Mrs Daisy Grace WATTS c/- Commercial Bank of London, England, with his mother Mrs MCINTYRE nee WATTS at 397 Park Street, South Melbourne, later 59 Merton Street, Albert Park. He returned from South Africa and moved to Sydney where he became a leading Australian Rules footballer with the Paddington club, representing combined Sydney and NSW teams in over a dozen games against Melbourne VFL clubs. It is not clear where he was living, but he originally joined the Imperial Army Infantry in October, 1914 as a Major before transferring to the AIF in May, 1916, subsequently promoted to Brigade-Major, and to Lieutenant-Colonel on 10.7.1916. He was Mentioned In Despatches, gazetted London 13.6.1916 and then awarded the Distinguished Service Order gazetted 2.7.1916. WATTS' archive shows his war medals being distributed to his mother to be held in trust for an unnamed son. A letter from her to Base Depot in 1920 suggested that his son was still in England "until his maternal grandmother can bring him". Despite this, his wife in Hampshire received the Memorial Scroll and Plaque.
URL4: KILLED.
LIEUT.-COLONEL BAG WATTS, DSO. Lieut.-Colonel Bertram Alexander Gordon WATTS, DSO, was killed in France on April 10. Deceased was born in 1880, and received his first commission in the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery in 1906, being promoted captain five years later, and given the Sydney Barracks-Middle Head-George's Heights-George's Head company, and held the position of adjutant RAGA from May, 1911, till June, 1913. Captain WATTS, as he then was, served through the South African campaign, 1900-02, with the Rhodesian Field Force, and was present at operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and Cape Colony. For his services he was awarded the Queen's medal with four clasps. Prior to the outbreak of the present war Captain WATTS left for England to attend the gunnery staff course, and received his majority when in the old country in 1914. He was one of the first to go to the front, being mentioned in despatches in the "London Gazette," January 1 and June 3, 1916, and awarded the DSO. At the time he was killed Lieut-Colonel WATTS was serving with the 4th Field Artillery Brigade.
URL5: AWM Roll of Honour - Lieutenant Colonel Bertram Alexander Gordon WATTS, Lieutenant Colonel, 4th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Army, First World War, 1914-1918. killed in action 10.4.1917 in France aged 37, Place of Association - Sydney NSW, Cemetery or Memorial - Vaulx Hill Cemetery, Vaulx, Picardie, France. Award - Distinguished Service Order.
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