| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | 3DRL/5018 |
| Collection type | Private Record |
| Record type | Collection |
| Measurement | Extent: 4.5 cm; Wallet/s: 2 |
| Object type | Album, Letter, Souvenir |
| Maker |
Watt, Walter Oswald |
| Place made | Australia, France |
| Date made | 1914-1921 |
| Access | Open |
| Related File This file can be copied or viewed via the Memorial’s Reading Room. | AWM315 419/111/008 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright expired. Copying permitted subject to physical condition. Permission for reproduction not required. |
Watt, Oswald (Lieutenant Colonel, OBE, No. 1 Sqn AFC d.1921)
Description
Collection relating to the First World War service of Lieutenant Colonel Walter Oswald “Toby” Watt, Australian Flying Corps, France and Australia, 1914-1921.
Wallet 1 of 2 - Consists of letters and postcards from Lieutenant Colonel Watt to his friends and family, dated between 22 June 1914 and 4 December 1915. In his correspondence, Watt shared his experiences of serving as a pilot on the Western Front. One of the experiences Watt relates is an incident in which Watt’s aircraft engine failed and he crash landed in No Man’s Land, between German and French lines. He and his observer had to run through German artillery fire to get to French trenches. However, neither were injured and they were able to transmit valuable information to the Allies. Watt’s letters also record experiences such as thoroughly enjoying flying, being hit by shrapnel while in the air, Australians being well regarded in France, receiving letters, being awarded a Croix du Guerre, involvement in strategic bombing of German infrastructure, and taking aerial photographs. This wallet contains:
Letter from [Walter Oswald Watt] to "Auntie", Paris, 22 June [1914]
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, Versailles, 18 August 1914
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 20 September 1914
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 27 September 1914
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, Paris, 26 October 1914
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 27 January 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to [unknown], France, 10 February 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 13 February 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 3 March 1915 [letter in two parts]
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, postmarked 7 April 1915
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 17 April 1915
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 19 April 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 24 May 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 28 May 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 5 June [1915]
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 14 July 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 8 August 1915
Postcard from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, France, 21 August 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 4 September 1915
Letter from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, 4 December 1915
Photograph of biplane being inspected by several men, [date unknown]
Envelope from Walter Oswald Watt to Mrs. Sydney Jamieson, [date unknown]
Envelope with notes regarding collection of Walter Oswald Watt, [date unknown]
Wallet 2 of 2 – Consists of one scrapbook containing clippings from various newspapers that relate to Lieutenant Colonel Watt’s life, service, death, and funeral.