Oswald Watt
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Walter Oswald Watt DSO, OBE (11 February 1878–21 May 1921) was an Australian aviator.
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[edit] Early life
Watt was born in Bournemouth, England. His mother died when Watt was one and the family moved to Sydney, Australia.[1]
In his 11th year, he returned to England to be educated at Clifton College, Bristol. Watt later studied at Trinity College, Cambridge University, receiving a BA in 1899. He returned to Sydney in 1900, was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles and in 1902 was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Governor of New South Wales.[1] He bought several cattle stations in New South Wales.[1] He received an MA from Cambridge in 1904.
Watt took flying lessons and obtained the Royal Aero Club certificate in England in 1911. He spent several months in Egypt in 1913, flying a Blériot XI.[2]
[edit] Military career
When World War I broke out, Watt joined the Aviation Militaire section of the French Foreign Legion.[1] During his time there, he won the Légion d'honneur and the Croix de Guerre. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1916 as a Captain and was made commander of B Flight, No. 1 Squadron, stationed in Egypt.
In September 1916, Watt was promoted to Major and took command of No. 2 Squadron. By February 1918, he was a Lieutenant Colonel and in command of the Australian training wing (Nos 5, 6, 7 and 8 Squadrons) at Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England.
[edit] Post-war
After the war, Watt returned to Australia and elected president of the New South Wales section of the Australian Aero Club.[1] He had several business interests including shipping, mining and art. He drowned at Bilgola, New South Wales, on 21 May 1921 and was buried with full military honours. He was survived by his only son.[1]
In his will, Watt left the residue of his estate to the University of Sydney.
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ a b c d e f Susan Johnston (1966). Watt, Walter Oswald (1878 - 1921). Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 12 pp 411-412. MUP. Retrieved on 2007-08-13.
- ^ Lieutenant Colonel Oswald "Ossie" Watt OBE, DSO, L. de H. and C. de G.. Australian Flying Corps. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
[edit] References
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Watt, Walter Oswald". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
Additional resources listed by the Dictionary of Australian Biography:
- Oswald Watt, A Tribute to his Memory; The Sydney Morning Herald, 23 May 1921; The Bulletin, 26 May 1921; The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918, vol. VIII.
Additional resources listed by the Australian Dictionary of Biography:
- Oswald Watt (Sydney, 1921); F. M. Cutlack, The Australian Flying Corps (Sydney, 1923); K. Isaacs, Military Aircraft of Australia, 1909-1918 (Canberra, 1971); Reveille (Sydney), 1 June 1939; Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 23 May 1921; The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 June 1921
