Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Herbert Thomas Watts, known as Tom, was born on 22nd September 1892 at Hendon, Middlesex, UK.  He was the second eldest of 6 children born to his parents Herbert and Sarah Watts.  His older sister Annie was born and died in 1891 then after Tom followed Sarah, Winniefred, Nellie and George.  Tom worked as a railway porter and was still living in Hendon in 1911.  At some point he immigrated to Australia and in 1914 was living at Greenhills outside Macclesfield, south-east of Adelaide, South Australia. 

On 23rd November 1914 Tom enlisted in the AIF at Oaklands Army Camp SA aged 22.  He’s described as being 5ft 8ins tall with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair.  His service number was 2250, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 3rd Field Ambulance, 2nd Reinforcements.  In late January 1915 he proceeded to Morphettville Army Camp SA and after completing his training, embarked from Melbourne on HMAT Surada on 6th February 1915.  He disembarked at Suez, Egypt, on 22nd March 1915 then on 12th April 1915 proceeded to join the 3rd Field Ambulance (3rd FA) aboard HMT Ionian at Mudros Bay, off Lemnos Island.  In preparation for the landings at Gallipoli, the Bearer Division of the 3rd FA with 3 Officers…Captains Conrick, (A Section), Fry (B Section) and McWhae (C Section)…plus 114 ranks had previously transhipped from HMS Nizam to HMT Ionian on 7th April.  On the 19th April 1915 they transhipped to HMT Suffolk then on the 21st, Captain Conrick fell ill so Captain Buchanan replaced him to take command of A Section.  On the 24th April 1915 the unit transhipped to the HMAT Devanha and then to the Destroyer HMS Ribble which arrived off shore of Anzac Cove in the early hours of the 25th April 1915.  The unit disembarked into row boats and went ashore under heavy fire at 4.30am with the first wave landing just north of Anzac Cove.  The following is a quote of Captain Buchanan’s from an article called “The Landing”: “I don’t know what it was, shrapnel, maxim or rifle fire - I was frightened to look, but I was never so frightened in my life as when I had to stand up in the bow to dominate the men (to keep rowing)... I could feel the damned things hitting me all the time in my imagination, while we couldn’t see the other boats for the spouts of spray all around, and the men hit yelped and then whined and clawed the air as they died.”

Tom, along with 6 others from the 3rd FA including the famous John Simpson, was given a Special Mention in Divisional Orders on 30th June 1915 with the following citation: “The Army Corps Commander has very much pleasure in publishing the names of Junior Regimental Officers, Warrant Officers, N.C.O.s and men, in the attached supplement, which have been brought to his notice for having performed various acts of conspicuous gallantry or valuable service during the period from 25th April to 5th May 1915.  He cordially thanks them for the good work they have performed, which more than ever testifies to their devotion to duty towards King and Country.  His only regret is that they cannot all be rewarded.” 

Tom was also mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch on 26th August 1915.  The following is the citation: “The late General Officer Commanding referred in his previous despatch to the conspicuous gallantry of the AAMC. The names hereon were submitted by the ADMS who in the circumstances had great difficulty in choosing from the many men whose courage and devotion were exemplary.  3rd Field Ambulance: Captain H K Fry, Sergeant W Gunn, Sergeant O R Hookway, Lance Corporal G C Farnham, Private C H G Rosser, Private H T Watts, Private J Simpson.”

Tom was admitted to hospital twice with diarrhoea in September 1915 but remained at Gallipoli for the entire campaign and was evacuated with the troops on 23rd December 1915 on HMT Caledonia and disembarked at Alexandria, Egypt, on 27th December 1915.  He proceeded to Tel-el-Kebir Camp where he remained until 27th March 1916 when he, together with the whole 3rd FA, embarked from Alexandria on HMT Kingstonian and disembarked at Marseilles, France, on 3rd April 1916.  On the voyage one of the men from his unit fell overboard while sleep walking and was drowned.  Tom took leave from late May to early June 1916 and was appointed Temporary Corporal on 15th July 1916 then promoted to Corporal 3 days later. 

In August 1917 Tom was detached from his unit for a week to attend the 2nd Army School of Cookery at Hazebrouck in northern France.  In March 1918 he took leave for 10 days to Paris then in October 1918 he took 2 weeks leave to England.  On 1st December 1918 he proceeded to the Australian General Base Depot (AGBD) at Le Havre, France, then 5 days later embarked for the UK for return to Australia.  He disembarked at Southampton and proceeded to Heytesbury to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery (RBAA).  On 20th December 1918 he proceeded to a rest camp at St Budeaux and then in early January 1919 proceeded to No. 4 Command Depot and the AAMC Training Depot both at Hurdcott Camp, Wiltshire.  Tom embarked from Devonport, England, on 24th January 1919 on HMAT Delta and had nursing duties for the voyage back to Australia where he  disembarked at Adelaide on 5th March 1919.  He was discharged on the 9th May 1919. 

On 9th February 1922, Tom married Ida Janet Mott at Strathalbyn SA.  They welcomed 2 children…Winifred 1923 and Dorothy 1927.  After the war Tom worked as a dairy farmer.   

When WW2 broke out Tom enlisted with the Australian Military Forces on 3rd October 1939 at Adelaide SA aged 47.  His service number was S212472, his rank Private and he was assigned to the 4th Garrison Battalion.  He was discharged medically unfit on 9th January 1940. 

Tom passed away at his home at 70 Ayers Avenue, Daw Park SA on 24th August 1964 aged 71.  He was cremated and his ashes interred at the Macclesfield Cemetery SA. 

Tom is commemorated on the Macclesfield WW1 Honour Roll and the Macclesfield WW1 War Memorial.             

Herbert Thomas Watts was awarded for service in WW1 the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and the Anzac Commemorative Medallion.  For service in WW2 he was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945. 

Respectfully submitted by Sue Smith 18th March 2023.