WATTS, Cecil Thomas
| Service Number: | 31928 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 11 September 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Cadet |
| Last Unit: | Australian Flying Corps (AFC) |
| Born: | Stratford, West Ham, Essex, England , 15 September 1892 |
| Home Town: | Toogoolawah, Somerset, Queensland |
| Schooling: | City of London School, England |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Killed - aeroplane accident - Sopwith Camel, Leighterton Aerodrome, Tetbury, United Kingdom, 3 September 1918, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
Woodgrange Park Cemetery, East Ham Grave 35. 1929. INSCRIPTION GOD THOUGHT IT BEST TO TAKE THEE TO THY HEAVENLY REST , Woodgrange Park Cemetery, East Ham, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 11 Sep 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 31928, 13th Field Artillery Brigade | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Feb 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 31928, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Osterley embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 10 Feb 1917: | Embarked Gunner, 31928, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, RMS Osterley, Sydney | |
| 29 Sep 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Gunner, 11th Field Artillery Brigade | |
| 15 Jan 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Cadet, Australian Flying Corps (AFC) | |
| 3 Sep 1918: | Involvement 31928, Australian Flying Corps (AFC), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 31928 awm_unit: Australian Flying Corps awm_rank: Cadet awm_died_date: 1918-09-03 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Geoffrey Gillon
He was a Cadet in the Australian Flying Corps.
He was 25 and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Watts, of 30, Water Lane, Stratford.
The rolling, green hills of the Cotswolds is hardly where you would imagine being a place that played a major role in the Great War, yet the historic market town of Tetbury in Gloucestershire, UK was home base to 1st (Training) Wing Australian Flying Corps between 1917 and 1919.
Births Dec 1892 Watts Cecil Thomas W. Ham 4a 8
Deaths Sep 1918 Watts Cecil T 25 Tetbury 6a 377
Tetbury spans the boundaries of the counties of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 3rd September…… Cecil Thomas Watts was born at Stratford, West Ham, Essex, England in 1892.
According to information supplied by his mother – Cecil Thomas Watts came to Australia when he was 18 years old. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 11th September, 1916 as a 23 year old Grazier from “Cressbrook” Toogoolawah, via Esk, Queensland.
Gunner Cecil Thomas Watts embarked from Sydney, NSW on RMS Osterley on 10th February, 1917 with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade, 10th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 11th April, 1917.
Gunner Watts was marched in to R.B.A.A. (Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery) at Larkhill, Wiltshire, England on 11th April, 1917 from Australia.
Gunner Watts was written up for an Offence at Larkhill, Wiltshire – Overstaying Leave from midnight on 21st May, 1917 till noon on 22nd May, 1917. He was awarded 24 hours detention on 23rd May, 1917 & forfeited 2 days’ pay.
He was written up again for an Offence at Larkhill, Wiltshire – Overstaying Leave from 7 pm on 16th June, 1917 until 10.40 pm on 17th June, 1917 & was awarded a forfeiture of 4 days’ pay.
Gunner Watts proceeded overseas to France via Southampton on 11th September, 1917 & was taken on strength of 4th D.A.C. (Divisional Artillery Column) on 17th September, 1917.
Gunner Cecil Thomas Watts was transferred to 11th F.A.B. (Field Artillery Brigade) on 20th September, 1917. He was sent to Field Ambulance in Belgium on 31st October, 1917 with Influenza then transferred to Hospital at Rouen, France before being transferred to England on Hospital Ship on 10th November, 1917 with Bronchitis.
Gunner Watts was admitted to Bath War Hospital, England on 12th November, 1917 with Bronchitis – severe. He was transferred to 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford on 5th December, 1917 with “Gas Poisoning Bronchitis”.
Gunner Watts was on furlo from 7th to 21st December, 1917 & was then to report to Depot at Hurdcott. He was marched in to Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire on 8th January, 1918 from No. 4 Command Depot at Hurdcott, Wiltshire.
Gunner Cecil Thomas Watts was transferred to A.F.C. (Australian Flying Corps) at Wendover on 14th January, 1918. He was taken on strength of A.F.C. at Wendover on 15th January, 1918 as mustered as 2nd Air Mechanic (2/A.M.)
2nd Air Mechanic Watts was On Command at No. 2 R.F.C. (Royal Flying Corps) School of Military Aeronautics at Oxford on 1st February, 1918 to qualify for an appointment as Flying Officer & was appointed as Cadet.
Cadet / 2nd Air Mechanic Watts was marched out to 1st Wing Headquarters & reported to No. 8 Training Squadron at Tetbury on 1st June, 1918. He was taken on strength of No. 8 Training Squadron on 3rd June, 1918 at Leighterton.
Cadet Watts, of No. 8 Training Squadron, A.F.C., took off at 8.50 am on 3rd September, 1918 from Leighterton Aerodrome in a Sopwith Camel C101. The weather was good & it was his first Camel flight. He had flown “Avros” & “Pups”.
Cadet Cecil Thomas Watts died on 3rd September, 1918 at Leighterton as a result of an aeroplane accident which occurred at 9 am.
A Court of Enquiry was held at Leighterton Aerodrome on 3rd September, 1918. “The Pilot Cadet Watts, C.T. while attempting a right hand vertical turn, the machine C.101 went into a spin and that the Pilot did not push his control lever sufficiently forward to bring the machine out of spin. The Court are further of the opinion that no blame is attachable to any other person and that machine C. 101 was in perfect flying order on leaving the ground.”
Cadet Cecil Thomas Watts was buried in Woodgrange Park Cemetery, Manor Park, London, England. His Mother & Father - Mr & Mrs Watts, Water Lane, Stratford; Sister - Mrs Cockhead, Chadwell Heath, Essex and other relatives attended the funeral.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/woodgrange-park.html
Click images to start slideshow.