The AIF Project

Edward James WATT

Regimental number20112
Place of birthSouth Melbourne, Victoria
ReligionBaptist
OccupationRailway employee
Address11 Buckley Street, Essendon, Victoria
Marital statusMarried
Age at embarkation25
Height5' 6"
Weight121 lbs
Next of kinWife, Mrs E Watt, 11 Buckley Street, Essendon, Victoria
Previous military serviceServed for 6 years in 23rd Battery, Australian Field Artillery; discharged at own request.
Enlistment date2 March 1916
Place of enlistmentMelbourne, Victoria
Rank on enlistmentGunner
Unit nameField Artillery Brigade 8, Battery 32
AWM Embarkation Roll number13/36/1
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916
Rank from Nominal RollCorporal
Unit from Nominal Roll8th Field Artillery Brigade
FateReturned to Australia 31 October 1917
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Listed on Essendon Baptist Church Roll of Honor ('For King and Empire'), Victoria. Plaque in Garden of Remembrance, Victoria.
Medals

Military Medal

'At PLOEGSTEERT on the night of 4th/5th June, 1917, the Battery position and Group Exchange were subjected to very heavy shell fire and the positions had to be temporarily evacuated. Corporal WATT on his own initiative laid a fresh line to the Group Exchange by himself for a period of 7 hours and thus maintained communication with all five Batteries...unable to read last line.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219
Date: 20 December 1917

Discharge date14 May 1918
Other details

War service: Western Front

Commenced return to Australia on board HT 'Berrima', 31 October 1917; disembarked Melbourne, 30 December 1917; discharged (medically unfit), Melbourne, 14 May 1918.

Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Date of death7 June 1921
SourcesNAA: B2455, WATT Edward James

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