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Biography - Frank Henderson Watts

Frank Henderson Watts was born on 20 October 1896 at Quorn, Colony of South Australia (now State of South Australia, Australia) to Albert James Watts and Elizabeth Annie (Croll) Watts. [1]  His father, Albert, was a carpenter.

At some stage his family moved from Quorn, South Australia, to Hawthorn, Victoria. Frank attended Auburn State School, Rathmines Rd Hawthorn East, Australia, and in 1910 he was awarded a scholarship to study at the prestigious University High School, Victoria, Australia.[2]

In 1912 Frank lived at 'Gladsmuir', 20 Percy St Glenferrie, Victoria, Australia, the home of his maternal grandparents[3]  (At that time many homes were better known by their names than by street numbers; 'Gladsmuir' was named after the Scottish town in which his Grandmother, the beloved family matriarch, Janet Henderson, was born.)

On 26 July 1913 Frank passed the examination for the Clerical Division of the State Public Service and was appointed to the Victorian public service.

On 18 December 1917 Frank enlisted in and served with the Australian Army during World War I.[8]. [9][10]

On 30 April 1924 Frank married Hilda Shirley Swyer (known as Shirley) at St Columb's Church, Oxley Rd Hawthorn, Victoria, Australia.[4][5][6] The couple had two children:[7]

Russell Henderson Watts, born 30 July 30 1925 at Bethesda Hospital, Richmond; and
Elizabeth Henderson Watts, born 3 September 1929 at Bethesda Hospital, Richmond.
The family was living at 34 Clifton Rd, Camberwell, Victoria, when Russell was born. They later moved to live with Frank’s parents, Albert and Elizabeth, at 40 College Parade, Kew, Victoria. After being there for a period of time, around 1938 the family rented a mansion at 23 View Street, Auburn, and partitioned it into three flats. This became the main residence for the family. Russell recalled Frank taking him rowing everywhere for two to three days at a time. Russell was a cox from the age of nine, winning a Cup trophy in 1937. All this ceased when war broke out in 1940 as men joined the armed forces.

Frank again enlisted for the Second World War, service number 51503 VX14691, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.[11][12]

 World War 2 brought an end to Frank and Shirley’s marriage. Frank and Hilda divorced and in 1948 and Frank married Alma Alberth Woolridge in Victoria, Australia.[13] Shirley later married Cecil Pearson.

Frank Henderson Watts died suddenly on 6 August 1960 at the age of 63 while attending a cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Jolimont, Victoria, Australia [14][15] He was interred at the Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Thomas Simmons Lawn, Row BJ, grave number 36, on 9 August 1960.[16][17]

Sources

↑ Genealogy SA 1896 Watts Frank Henderson (parents) Albert James Watts & Elizabeth Croll (Reg. Frome) (Reg. No. 593/470)
↑ National Library of Australia - Trove The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 27 Dec 1910 p10; accessed 17 Mar 2024
↑ National Library of Australia - Trove Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) 18 May 1912 p39; accessed 17 Mar 2024
↑ Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages online index record of the marriage between Frank Henderson Watts and Hjilpa [sic] Shirley Swyher [sic] in 1924; registration number no 3235/1924; accessed 11 Mar 2024
↑ National Library of Australia - Trove The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 4 Jun 1924 p1; accessed 2 Dec 2025
↑ National Library of Australia - Trove The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 4 Jun 1924; p1; accessed 2 Dec 2025
↑ The Swyer Family Tree': reprinted text from Swyer family bible
↑ National Archives of Australia Citation NAA: B2455, Watts Frank Henderson; Item ID 8376458; accessed 11 Mar 2024
↑ UNSW Canberra The AIF Project: Frank Henderson Watts; Regimental number: 51503; Religion: Church of England; Occupation: Public servant; Address: 66 College Parade, Kew, Victoria; Marital status: Single; Age at embarkation: 21; Next of kin: Father, A J Watts, 66 College Parade, Kew, Victoria; Enlistment date: 18 December 1917; Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll: 26 October 1917; Rank on enlistment: Private; Unit name 2nd General (Victorian) Reinforcements; AWM Embarkation Roll number 23/111/3; Embarkation details: Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A14 Euripides on 1 May 1918; Rank from Nominal Roll: Private; Unit from Nominal Roll: 24th Battalion; Date Returned to Australia: 22 August 1919; accessed 2 Dec 2025
↑ National Archives Australia Watts Frank Henderson: Service Number: 51503 VX14691
↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs Nominal Rolls: Name: Watts, Frank Henderson; Service: Australian Army; Service Number: VX14691; Date of Birth: 20 Oct 1896; Place of Birth: Quorn, SA; Date of Enlistment: 6 May 1940; Locality on Enlistment: Auburn, Vic; Place of Enlistment: Caulfield, Vic; Next of Kin: Watts, Hilda; Date of Discharge: 11 Jul 1946; Rank: Lieutenant Colonel; Posting at Discharge: A A S C 7 AUST DIV; WW2 Honours and Gallantry: None for display; Prisoner of War: No; accessed 2 Dec 2025
↑ National Archives Australia - Name Search Watts Frank Henderson : Service Number - VX14691 : Date of birth - 20 Oct 1896 : Place of birth - QUORN SA : Place of enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - WATTS HILDA
↑ Victorian Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages online index record of the marriage between Frank Henderson Watts and Alma Alberth Woolridge in 1948; registration number 9832/1948; accessed 2 Dec 2025

This information has been sourced by collaboration of Robyn Lindsay with Neil Croll, both relatives of Frank Henderson Watts.