Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Alfred, born in the famous gold town of Ballarat, Victoria on the 13th October 1920 was the middle son of Elise Maude Lavere and Albert George Snr. Alfred, known as George, had an older brother, John and younger, Robert.
The family moved to Hindmarsh in South Australia where Alfred’s father ran a confectionary shop. To create extra income, he was creative with a supply of keg and bottled beer and flagons of wine, causing him to front the Hindmarsh Magistrate’s Court claiming the supplies were for ‘legal purposes’ rather than being involved with what was known as ‘sly grog’ to those who asked for the supplies. Unfortunately, word spread resulting in Albert quite regularly facing charges. In August ’31 this included for having a 10-gallon keg and several flagons of wine, plus 19 bottles of beer. It was a costly exercise with a fine of £20 with £1 5/ costs, was imposed and confiscation of the liquor, but not the keg. Not learning from this experience, a similar raid was conducted the following year with similar results.
Living in Hindmarsh, Alfred and his brothers attended Adelaide High School.
Alfred was 18 when his 54-year-old mother died in April ’38 and was buried in the local Hindmarsh Cemetery. Alf had found employment in Jabuk, in the Murray Mallee agricultural region, but with the outbreak of WWII the 20-year-old enlisted on the 14th February ’41 as SX11304. By March he was training in the mid-north region of Terowie, where conditions were considered to replicate those the new enlistees would encounter in the Middle East. By April Alfred was officially allocated to the 2/48th Battalion reinforcements. Brief leave followed before he sailed for the Middle East, arriving in mid-May. Almost immediately he was promoted to Acting Corporal during training at the Amiriya Staging Camp. He then reverted to the rank of Private on re-joining the 2/48th Battalion.
Unfortunately, near the end of January ’42 Alf developed appendicitis and remained in the Scottish General Hospital, eventually returning to his battalion at the end of March. He was to become one of the highly regarded Rats of Tobruk – a derogatory term designed to destroy morale amongst the troops, but, ironically, it had the opposite effect and became an unofficial badge of honour.
By the 14th July ’42 Alfred was severely wounded with ‘perforated and penetrating wounds’ to the abdomen and despite being evacuated to the field ambulance died of his wounds. At the time the battle for Tel El Eisa was underway through minefield towards Points 23 and 33. John Glenn in Tobruk to Tarakan described how the biggest artillery barrage was unleashed, creating a dense smoke screen on Point 23 and the railway line as the troops advanced. During the attack, a direct charge was made by Alf’s battalion across open ground with fixed bayonets. In response, German tanks advanced, crossing and recrossing slit trenches in which the men were sheltering, wounding many. It seems unclear exactly when Alfred was fatally wounded in this concentrated battle. He was just 21 years old.
By the 21st of July, the Advertiser announced that ‘Mr. A G. Watts, of Hindmarsh has been advised that his son, Pte. Alfred George Watts, has died of wounds received abroad.’ The extent of the losses appeared in the News of 31st July. ‘28 S.A. Battle Casualties Three South Australians are reported killed in action, four dead of wounds, and 21 wounded in action abroad in the latest Australian Military Forces casualty list. The list is: Killed in Action. - Capt. J. C. Hodgetts, Toorak; Lieutenant R. J. Dowling, Orroroo; Lance-Corporal R. S. McPherson. New Mile-End (all Infantry). Died of Wounds.--Lieutenant K. C. Barritt, Kensington Gardens (Infantry); Gunner W. Souter, Peterborough (Artillery); Private A. G. Watts. Hindmarsh (Infantry).
That month, The Advertiser in its Rural Report announced that ‘Pte A. Watts. who has died of wounds received abroad was the first Jabuk casualty of the war. Prior to his enlistment Pte. Watts was farming in the district.’ The local newspaper, the Pinnaroo and Border Times also reported ‘The residents of Jabuk are to be congratulated upon their outstanding effort in raising money for the Comforts Fund. A queen competition, just concluded, has been responsible for the sum of £471 being made available to provide comforts for members of the Forces. During the evening a minute’s silence was observed in honour of Private Alf. Watts who recently died of wounds overseas.’
Alfred was initially buried near the hospital, but now permanently rests in the El Alamein War Cemetery, where he was reburied in March ’43. His remains are in Grave 25, Plot XVI, Row F. His father chose for his headstone the inscription ‘He Gave His All, A Worthy Son.’ Alfred rests with his fellow soldiers from the 2/48th, including SX12765 Private Charles A. Corfield, SX8230 Private Ronald A.F. Clements, SX8636 33-year-old Private Victor Young, SX11171 27-year-old Lieutenant Lance H. Heffron, WX10416 26-year-old Corporal Harold L. Scott, WX9830 35-year-old Private Benjamin D. Parry, SX5304 Private Eric W. Coleman, 21-year-old SX13018 Private Colin J. Hanley, 22 year old SX7979 Corporal Lindsay R. Evans, 22 year old SX11052 Private Walter M. Shane, 27 year old SX7343 Private John E. Miller, 28 year old SX9316 Private Arthur L. Phillips, 24 year old SX7948 Lieutenant Sergeant Keith L. Trenorden, 19 year old WX10144 Private Albert B. Lang and SX8670 26-year-old Corporal William Glennon. Eighteen from his battalion are listed as being killed on the same day and interred nearby.
Alfred’s mother, Elise had been buried in the Hindmarsh Cemetery. Her headstone commemorated her life with the inscription ‘In Loving Memory of Elsie Maude Beloved Wife of Albert G. Watts Died 24. April 1938. Aged 54 Years.’ Also added was a poignant tribute to Alfred ‘Also Alfred George. Son of the Above Died of Wounds 14. July 1942 Aged 20 Years A.I.F Abroad, At Rest.’ It is possible that Fred advanced his age when he enlisted as his Army records suggest he was a year older (21) when he died or it may have been an engraving mistake.
Alfred’s young brother, Robert Frederick, a clerk, enlisted as a 19-year-old in July ‘42 as SX30155 and was placed in the AASC Training Company. He served in Victoria and Queensland, before being deployed to Bougainville and Moresby, then post war to Japan. He was unfortunate to sustain a derangement of his right knee meniscus, prompting a return to Sydney and thence to the Repatriation Hospital in South Australia with a range of health issues besides his knee including malaria, facial cysts and anxiety. He was discharged in April ’47.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.