Wrist Watch : Flight Lieutenant K W Truscott, 452 Squadron, RAAF

Fourteen carat gold Rolex Oyster Chronometer, Ref. 3116, with the broken remnants of a Bonklip bracelet, also supplied by Rolex. The watch face is damaged and cannot be seen clearly through the cracked glass covering. Engraved on the back of the watch case is 'IN APPRECIATION FROM POWERHOUSE.' Impressed below this inscription is '44217' and '3116'.

On 7 November 1941 400213 Flight Lieutenant Keith William 'Bluey' Truscott was forced to bale out of his Spitfire into the English Channel. Truscott was part of a 'Circus' operation escorting British bombers to Lille, and as they returned towards the French coast, 452 Squadron was attacked by German Messerschmitts. After shooting down two enemy aircraft, Truscott felt his Spitfire shudder and saw bursts on the starboard wing. He made for the English coast but realised his petrol supply was failing. Fore-and-aft control of the aircraft also soon failed. He baled out into the sea and was rescued about an hour later. His watch, a present from his parents to mark his twenty-first birthday, was ruined by immersion in the water, a fact reported in the Australian press a few days later.

As a result three Sydney schoolchildren, Bruce, Patricia and Brian Story pooled the money that they had been saving for Christmas shopping - 12 pounds 10 shillings - and sent it to Truscott's parents as a contribution for a new watch. However, Lord Somers' Camp and Power House, a Melbourne youth organisation which Truscott had joined in the mid 1930s, had already raised thirty pounds and cabled it to a London jeweller who supplied this Rolex to Truscott. Truscott's mother returned the Story children's money to them with a letter of thanks.

Bluey Truscott became one of Australia's best-known flying aces of the Second World War. Born on 17 May 1916 at Prahran, Melbourne, he proved to be both a good student and a keen sportsman, playing Australian Rules football in Melbourne's premiership team of 1939. Already famous as a footballer, he enlisted in the RAAF on 21 July 1940, amidst considerable publicity. Despite his sporting reputation, he was not a natural pilot and almost failed his course. His position as something of a public figure afforded Truscott a chance to continue flying, and he eventually earned his wings despite becoming known for his poor landings. He was sent to Canada under the Empire Air Training Scheme, was commissioned in February 1941, and then posted to England, where he joined No. 452 Squadron as a foundation member on 5 May. Flying a Spitfire, he scored his first victory in August. Thereafter, his score began a gradual rise. After three months of war flying, he had destroyed at least 11 German aircraft, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and made a flight commander. In January 1942 he was made acting squadron leader before being posted back to Australia in March. Later that month he was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. At this time he was the most well-known pilot in the RAAF. In Australia, Truscott joined No. 76 Squadron in Bankstown. The squadron, flying Kittyhawks, had previously served in Papua, and redeployed there in July 1942. Before leaving Australia, Truscott played a last game for the Melbourne football club; lacking match fitness, he was unable to keep up with the play and found himself exhausted. He had received a rousing public welcome and kicked a goal, much to the fans' delight, but when he was asked whether he would play again, he replied that it was no longer for him. Based at Milne Bay, No. 76 Squadron arrived shortly before the Japanese landings. By August Truscott was in command, the previous CO having been killed in action. Amidst uncertainty about whether the airfields at Milne Bay could be held, he evacuated his squadron to Port Moresby. He and the unit served throughout the Milne Bay battle in constant rain, heavy mist, and low clouds. The mountainous terrain, slippery runways, and heavy anti-aircraft fire added to the danger, but Truscott survived and continued to command the squadron when it was transferred to Darwin. His tally rose to 16 enemy aircraft destroyed along with three probables and three damaged.

In February 1943 the squadron moved to a quieter posting in Western Australia. Truscott was on a training flight over the Exmouth Gulf on 28 March when he made a mock attack on a low-flying Catalina. Flying into the sun over glassy water he misjudged his height, bounced off the water and crashed nose first into the water from 200 feet. His body, this broken watch and parts of the aircraft fuselage were recovered the following day.