Pair of miniature crocheted woollen booties : Captain H G Watson, 4 Squadron AFC

Good luck charm in the form of a pair of miniature crocheted white woollen baby's booties in 4 ply wool. The top edge of the each bootie and its ankle tie are crocheted from fine polished cotton. The booties are pinned together with a small brass safety pin.

This good luck charm was carried by Captain Herbert Gilles Watson, No. 4 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps. 523 Sapper Watson enlisted in 2 New South Wales Signal Troop, 2 Light Horse Brigade on 28 October 1914. Departed Australia for overseas service in late December and underwent training in Egypt. He went ashore at Gallipoli at 7 am on 25 April 1915 and was wounded in the leg in August. Evacuated to England, he later transferred to the Australian Flying Corps, being posted to No. 4 Squadron, AFC on 5 February 1918. Watson claimed his first victory in April 1918 and had eight victories by the end of June. He was awarded a DFC on 3 August, the citation for which reads: 'Whilst on offensive patrol he encountered several Pfalz scouts, one of which he shot down. He has also in three weeks shot down four enemy machines and destroyed a balloon, attacking the latter at 6,000 feet, following it down to 1,000 feet, when it burst into flames' By early October when he became a flight commander Watson had brought his score to fourteen, three of these being balloons. He returned to Australia on 21 November 1918.