Walter James WATTS
Per his military service record (Depot), Walter James Watts was born at Hay, N.S.W.[1] He gave his age as 38 years, his marital status as married, and his occupation as labourer. His description on his Certificate of Medical Examination form was height 5 feet 6 inches tall, weight 10 stone, with a dark complexion, blue eyes, and dark hair. His religious denomination was recorded as being Anglican. He claimed that he had no previous military service.
His next of kin was recorded on his Australian Imperial Force Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad form as Mrs E. M. Watts, C/o J. Dumbrell, Walla Walla N.S.W.
He completed his medical examination at Gilgandra on 14th October 1915 (4 days after the Coo-ees left Gilgandra). He travelled to Dubbo Army Camp – the nearest place he could enlist, and was attested at Dubbo on 17th October 1915.
The Gilgandra Weekly reported on 3rd December 1915 that prior to enlisting Watts had been ‘employed by Mr Utley, a district sawmiller’, and that ‘he left Gilgandra for the Dubbo Depot Camp, where he enlisted on October 16. The next day he entrained to Wellington and joined the Coo-ees’.[2]
The Coo-ees had a rest day in Wellington on 17th October 1915.
After completing the Co-ee March he went to Liverpool Camp as reinforcement for the 13th Battalion.
On 17th November 1915 Private Watts of the “Coo-ees” went before a Medical Board at Liverpool Camp, where he was found to be unfit for active service due to varicose veins.
Private Watts was discharged medically unfit on 29th November 1915.
[1] NAA: B2455, WATTS WALTER JAMES
[2] ‘An aftermath’, Gilgandra Weekly, 3 December 1915, p. 10. Retrieved August 11, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119922362
1915 Coo-ee March 