Norman Douglas Watt 3539

SAPPER NORMAN DOUGLAS WATT 3539 – 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust. Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

Born at Cobden, Heytesbury, Victoria in 1894, Norman was the son of John and Mary Ann (nee Lascelles) Watt.

On 23 February 1916 he completed an ‘Application to Enlist in the Australian Imperial Force’ and signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) stating he was a single motor mechanic. His previous military experience was 1 year in Junior Cadets; 2 years in Senior Cadets; 3 years in Mounted Cadets and 4 years in the Citizens Forces.

He named as his Next-of-Kin his father Mr. John Watt of Temora, NSW

A medical examination on the same day recorded that he was 21 years and 11 months of age. He was 5ft 6ins tall, weighed 122 lbs, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. He was of the Church of England faith. At Rosebery Park, Sydney on 17 March he signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’.

On 11 May 1916 he was officially appointed to No.4 Tunnelling Company and embarked at Sydney for the European theatre on 22 May 1916 on board Warilda.

Two Sections of the Northern recruits to form the No.4 Company had embarked from Brisbane, Queensland early in May, 1916 aboard HMAT A69 Warilda for Sydney, New South Wales (NSW). Six officers and 152 other ranks together with the 1st Reinforcements of fifteen other ranks made up the two sections.

At Rosebery Park, Sydney, NSW they joined their Headquarters and two sections (8 officers & 153 O.Rs.) plus 1st Reinforcements consisting of one officer and seventeen other ranks for final training.

Sydney Morning Herald Monday May 22, 1916: THE TROOPS INSPECTION AT MOORE PARK “In the presence of a crowd of 10,000 people the District Commandant, Brigadier-General Ramaciotti, V.D., held an inspection of troops at Moore Park, on Saturday afternoon. The troops consisted of Field Artillery, Tunnelling Section (including Queenslanders), under Major Vincent; Infantry, under Lieutenant Owen Gibbs, under Captain Brosnan, the whole parade being under the command of Major Holman, D.S.O. Prior to arrival of the commandant and his staff, the men were drawn up in columns of companies on the Dowling-street side of the ground, facing the tramline. The bands of Liverpool Headquarters and the Engineers played selections of music. Brigadier-General Ramaciotti, V.D. made a close inspection of the lines. Returning to the saluting base the Commandant took the salute as the various units marched past in columns of companies, and again as they returned headed by the band in columns of fours. One company had with it a small kangaroo as a mascot. The animal was held on a ribbon, but when it drew level with the saluting base it bobbed up and down as if anxious to do its share in the saluting lines as its male friends were doing. Its antics were so ludicrous that the crowd roared. At the conclusion of the inspection the men were marched across to the Royal Agricultural Ground, where they were provided with temporary quarters.” Abridged

The 7713-ton transport departed Sydney, NSW on May 22, 1916 and collected in Melbourne, Victoria the No 5 Company recruited from Victoria, South Australia & Tasmania consisting of a Headquarters and 2 Sections (8 officers & 173 men) (3 M.D.). 1 Section from Tasmania (3 officers & 76 O.Rs); also 1st Reinforcements for No 5 Company (17 men from Vic. & 8 men Tas.) The ship departed on May 25, 1916 for Adelaide, S.A. to collect one Section of 3 officers & 76 O.Rs with 1st Reinforcements of 8 O.Rs. Docking at Fremantle, W.A. on June 1, 1916 No 6 Company recruited from W.A. of 14 officers and 325 O.Rs along with 1st Reinforcements of 1 Officer & 32 O.Rs embarked and Warilda departed the same day for the European theatre.

Durban, South Africa was reached on June 16, 1916 and Cape Town on June 21, 1916 while St Vincent completed the African ports of call on July 7, 1916. Discipline was fairly good except at intermediate ports where soldiers going Absent Without Leave caused concern. The fifty-eight day voyage experienced remarkable pleasant weather and terminated at Plymouth, England on July 18, 1916. Four, Five and Six Companies comprising of 1064 officers and other ranks were detrained to Amesbury and Tidworth to begin training for the front.

Norman proceeded overseas to France on 29 August 1916. He marched in to the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on 30 August, and was admitted to the 51st General Hospital at Etaples on 31 August and discharged to the Australian General Base Depot on 19 December 1916.

On 28 December he was attached to the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (1ATC), then working at Hill 60. On 23 January 1917 he was attached to the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC).

He was admitted to the 15th Casualty Clearing Station on 27 January with laryngitis, being discharged to duty on 3 February.

Norman was appointed a Motor Transport Driver on 15 April, reverting to Sapper rank on 24 May 1917.

He was taken on strength of the AEMMBC on 23 December 1917 and his Blue Chevrons were due around that time. Each blue Service chevron denoted one year’s service from 1 January 1915. A Red chevron denoted service before 31 December 1914.

He reported sick on 7 May 1918 and spent 4 days in the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station before rejoining his unit. Camperdown Chronicle – Victoria – Tuesday 21 May 1918: Cobden School Honor Board Steps are being taken to provide an Honor Board at the Cobden State school. A list of the boys, who have attended the school and who have enlisted, is given below. As this list may be incomplete, the head teacher, Mr. H. J. Cole, will be glad if those who know of others not included in it, will furnish their names, so that the names of all old boys, who have enlisted, may appear on the Honor Hoard. The names furnished are:- Watt, Norman; Watt, Ruby (nurse) Article Abridged

On 30 October 1918 his Next-of-Kin advised the Defence department of his change of address to: 60 Kerford Road, Albert Park, Victoria.

Norman reported sick 9 November and was admitted to the 39th Stationary Hospital with influenza. On 19 November 1918 he was admitted to the 35th General Hospital with broncho pneumonia. On 22 November he was evacuated to England on board Hospital Ship Stad Antwerpen. He was admitted to the Tankerton Hospital, affiliated with the Shorncliffe Military Hospital, at Whitstable.

He was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 23 December and on 30 December he was discharged to furlough, to report to No.2 Command Depot on 13 January 1919. His Next-of-Kin was advised of his illness on 31 December 1918.

The AEMMBC, with a strength of little more than 300 men, was employed along the entire Western Front providing lighting and ventilation to dugouts and boring for water supplies where needed. They worked with all 5 Armies of the British Expeditionary Force. Norman left London on 2 March 1919 on board HMAT A14 Euripides for repatriation and demobilisation, disembarking at Melbourne on 25 April 1919. He was discharged from the A.I.F on 16 June 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He did not initially claim his medals and they were returned to the 3rd Military District Depot Store on 10 May 1923. He later received the medals on 8 December 1925 at 7 Rose Street, Gordon Vale.

In February 1920 his military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne.

The 1919 Electoral Records the family of John and Mary Ann Watt living at 44 Langridge Street, Middle Park. John is at this time retired. Also living in the house are Florence Winifred Watt, home duties; Ivy Adeline Watt, clerk; Norman Douglas Watt, motor mechanic and Ruby May Watt, nurse.

The Cobden Honor Board was unveiled in March 1920, the event being publicised in the Camperdown Chronicle of Thursday 11 March 1920.

Among the many names on the Board are: WATT, Norman and WATT R. (Nurse). Also identified in the list is 8216 Sapper Stanley McQuinn of 2ATC and his brother Hector who was killed in action in August 1918.

Norman married Olive Muriel Sturgess, the daughter of Charles and Mary (nee Watt) Sturgess.

In 1924 Norman is a salesman living at 38 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda with Olive performing home duties.

The Electoral Roll for 1931 records Norman, an Engineer, and Olive living at 76 Wattle Road, Glenferrie.

The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Wednesday 22 July 1931: DEEDS OF ASSIGNMENT. Norman Douglas Watt, of Wattle road, Hawthorn, trading as the Glenferrie Auto Service, Glenferrie road, Glenferrie, motor garage proprietor, has assigned his estate for the benefit of creditors. Mr. E.L. Barrett has been appointed trustee. The estimated liabilities are £534/4/10. and the estimated amount of the property is £313.

The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Friday 23 September 1932: NO RECORD OF REPAIRS. Garage - Engineer Fined. A prosecution, said to be the first under the Motor car Act regulations issued in February, was heard at the Hawthorn Court on Wednesday when Norman Douglas Watt, garage engineer, Glenferrie road, was charged with having failed to keep a register of cars received for repairs as required by the regulations. Watt, who said that the regulations were not sufficiently definite, was fined £1.

Norman received a replacement Returned Servicemans’ badge on 9 September 1935, the original being lost when the coat it was in was accidentally burnt.

The Argus – Melbourne, Vic – Monday 5 July 1937: DEATHS WATT (nee Lascelles).— On the 4th July, 1937, at her home, 7 James street, Brighton, Mary Ann, widow of the late John Watt, and dearly loved mother of Percy (deceased), Florence, Ivy, Ruby, Olive, Norman, and Hazel, in her 78th year. FUNERALS WATT.— The Friends of the late Mrs MARY ANN WATT are respectfully informed that her remains will be interred in the Melbourne General Cemetery, Carlton. The funeral will leave her residence, No. 7 James street, Brighton THIS DAY (Monday, 5th July), at 3.30 p.m. JOHN (ROY V.) ALLISON, Funeral Director, cnr Glenhuntly and Hawthorn roads, Caulfield, Tel. L1816 In 1943 Norman, an agent, and Olive are living at ‘Darley’, 4 Merrion Place (or Merrion Grove?), Kew. The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Thursday April 7 1949: REUNIONS The annual reunion of the Tunnellers and Electrical and Mechanical Co AIF Association will be held at 8pm on Saturday, April 23, at the club-house, Richmond Rowing Club, near Princes Bridge. Mr N. D. Watt, 358 Collins st, Melbourne, and Mr. H. D. Hopkins, Melbourne Town Hall, are the secretaries.

In 1949 and 1950 Norman was an Auctioneer for his sister Ivy Adelines’ business: I.A. Watt & Co., 358 Collins St Melbourne.

On 5 September 1951 Norman and Olive departed London (address 63 St James Court) on board Himalaya bound for Sydney.

In 1954 Norman, an agent, and Olive are still living at ‘Darley’, 4 Merrion Place (Merrion Grove), Kew.

Olive Muriel Watt, born 1895, died at Melbourne, Victoria in 1958 age 62, the daughter of Charles Sturgess and Mary nee Watt.

The Electoral Roll for 1963 records Norman, an agent living at ‘Darley’, 4 Merrion Place (Merrion Grove), Kew with Dorothy Phyllis Watt performing home duties. Norman is also recorded in 1963 as retired living at 7 James Street, Brighton, while Dorothy is recorded as living at Malvern, Victoria.

In 1968, Norman Douglas, retired; Dorothy Phyllis, home duties, and Ivy Adeline, agent, are living at 7 James Street, Brighton. By 1972 at 7 James Street, Brighton are Norman Douglas, retired; and Ivy Adeline, agent. Dorothy has apparently moved to Clifton Beach, Queensland.

Norman Douglas Watt died at Brighton, Victoria in 15 April 1974 age 80, the son of John Watt and Mary Ann nee Lacelles. He was buried at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Nursing Sister Ruby May Watt enlisted on 31 October 1916 named her mother Mrs. Watt as her Next-of- Kin. She stated she had previously served 14 months with Military Hospitals and that her training had included 4 years at the Children’s Hospital, Carlton, Victoria. She named her father Mr. John Watt of Temora, NSW as her Next-of-Kin. On 7 November 1916 she was appointed to the Australian Medical Corps Reinforcements on board the Hospital Ship Kanowna.

Ruby again completed the ‘Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ on 23 May 1917. The now 27-year-old Nurse, this time recording that she had previously served 22 months with the A.I.F.

She embarked from Melbourne on R.M.S. Mooltan on12 June 1917, disembarking at Suez on 19 July. On 25 July she embarked at Port Said for Salonika on board Gordon, joining the 66th General Hospital there for duty on 30 July. On 1 September she was appointed Acting Sister.

On 10 November 1917 she was transferred to the 42nd General Hospital at Salonika. On 13 November she was admitted to the Sisters Convalescent Home with debility. Discharged from the Home on 21 November, returning to the 42nd General Hospital.

She was attached to the 52nd General Hospital on 17 June 1918. She embarked for Egypt on board Gorgan on 30 June, enroute to Australia.

Ruby embarked for Australia on board Hospital Ship Kanowna on 22 July 1918 (accompanying invalids) disembarking at Melbourne on 1 September 1918. Ruby was discharged from the A.I.F. in Melbourne on 25 November 1918, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In 1919 Ruby is a nurse living at 60 Kerford Street, Albert Park with her mother, Mary Ann, father John and sisters Florence Winifred and Ivy Adeline. Later in 1919 the family are recorded at 44 langridge Street, Middle Park, as is Rubys’ brother Norman Douglas.

In October 1921 her military and medical records were provided to the Repatriation Commission, Melbourne. The documents again provided to the Repatriation Commission in December 1938.

The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Saturday 2 December 1922: MARRIAGES HANNAFORD–WATT.–On the 24th October, at St. Stephen's Church of England, Gardenvale, by the Rev. L. G. Vance, Harold Hannaford to Ruby May Watt, daughter of Mrs. Watt and the late Mr. John Watt.

1550 Sergeant Harold Hannaford served with the 3rd Pioneer Battalion from March 1916. He was in France from 24 November 1916 until 10 April 1919. Discharged from the A.I.F. on 14 December 1919, he was entitled to wear the British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Military Medal, which he was awarded in late 1917-early 1918 for bravery in the field.

The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Wednesday 16 January 1924: BIRTHS HANNAFORD (nee Ruby Watt).— On the 5th January, at Ulverstone private hospital, North Brighton, to Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hannaford, of Bealiba road, Caulfield — a daughter.

In 1931 Harold and Ruby are living at 38 Court Street, Box Hill, Victoria.

Ruby May Hannaford, nee Watt, died on 20 July 1951 aged 62 years, her death registered on the Imperial War Graves List on 21 December 1951.

The Argus – Melbourne, Victoria – Monday 23 July 1951: DEATHS HANNAFORD (nee Watt).— On July 20 (suddenly), at her home, 38 Court Street, Box Hill, Ruby May, beloved wife of Harold (Hal), and loved mother of Babette and Isa (late A.A.N.S.)

HANNAFORD.— On July 20, at her residence, 38 Court Street, Box Hill, Ruby May, daughter of the late John and M.A. Watt (Cobden), and loved sister of Percy (deceased), Flo (Mrs. Webb), Ivy, Olive (Mrs Nixon), Norman, and Hazel. FUNERAL NOTICES HANNAFORD (nee Watt).— The Funeral of the late Mrs. RUBY MAY HANNAFORD will leave her home, 38 Court street, Box Hill, THIS DAY (Monday), after a service commencing at 2 p.m., for the Springvale Crematorium. LE PINE AND SON PTY LTD JA1104

Harold Hannaford died at Heidelberg, Victoria in 1972 aged 78 years.