WATTS, William Henry (1889-1943)William Watts was educated as a day student at Geelong College from 1904. When he was enrolled he was living at 'Ashford', Malop St, Geelong. He was born on 4 March 1889 at Geelong and died at Geelong on 18 August 1943.
He was one of three children born to William Henry Watts (1864-1917) and his wife Annie nee Jones (1868-1938), the others being Winifred Annie McGarvie nee Watts (1890-1964) and Dorothy Margaret Hagger nee Watts (1893-1955).
During World War I, he enlisted (No. 5477) in the AIF on 15 July 1915, and embarked on
HMAT A14 Euripides on 4 April 1916 for France to serve with 14 Battalion. He described his 'trade or calling' as photographer on his enlistment record.
He was wounded in action shortly after his arrival in France at Mouquet Farm in August 1916. He was commissioned and transferred to the Staff in February 1918.
He wrote to a friend on 20 November 1918:
'As you will notice by address, I am on a staff job, instructor in physical training and bayonet fighting, and I can tell you it's a better game sticking it to a dummy in Blighty than trying to put a bayonet into a real live Fritz over in France. I am looking forward to going through a school at Aldershot in the near future. After coming out of hospital I took a job in the Ord room. After a while I got sick of sitting down pushing the pen all day, and the OC training offered me this job, so took it on, and it will do me. We don't do too bad for leave either - four days every six weeks, so I manage to get about and see a bit of the country.
My last trip was three weeks ago, and I spent it up in London, and a run round the different theatres. I can tell you I was sorry when it was time to go back to camp. I often run up against Mitchell; he is in the company that I'm attached to here, he runs NOW (News of the Week) and papers along to me to have a look at. He is also in the same battalion as I am, the 14th.' Watts returned to Australia, embarking on 11 December 1918.
William Henry Watts (1864-1917), photographer.
The Geelong Advertiser published the following obituary of his father, W H Watts, who, as a photographer in Geelong, produced many of the images depicting the people, events and teams of Geelong College in the early years of the Twentieth Century:
'News of the sudden death of Mr W H Watts of Ryrie St, came as a great shock to his many friends. Apparently in his usual health, he was at business on Saturday. Early on Sunday morning he had a paralytic stroke, and without regaining consciousness passed away the same evening. Deceased had been in business in Geelong for a great number of years. Before he took over the photographic studio of Mr. Monteath, in Ryrie Street, he was with Mr. G. L. Massingham at the corner of Moorabool and Ryrie Streets.
At one time he was a prominent figure in Masonic circles, and was Master of the St Andrew's in the South Lodge. He took an active part in the recent formation of the 14th Battalion Comforts Committee. He was a regular attendant at the Yarra Street Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Geelong Branch of the Royal Society of St George, and at one time was connected with the Geelong Progress Association. He leaves a widow, two daughters, and a son. The latter, Lieut W Watts who has been on active service for some time, has been wounded, and is now in England. Out of respect to the memory of their late member, the various photographers will close today at 12. The funeral will leave Mr Watts' late residence, Aberdeen Street, this afternoon at 4 o'clock for the Eastern Cemetery.'
The Geelong Advertiser carried an advertisement in April 1893 of an announcement by W H Watts, Manager of the Premier Portrait Studio, Franks' Corner, Geelong of its sale as ' the oldest established photographic business in Geelong '.
It was not until three years later that Watts bought his own photographic business when the Advertiser included the following advertisement:
'Mr F. MONTEATH tenders his thanks to his friends and customers for their support and patronage in the past, and begs to inform them that he has this day SOLD to Mr W. H. WATTS the Goodwill, Furniture, and Apparatus together with all Book Debts of his business in Ryrie-street, known as the Elite Studio.
HAVING this day PURCHASED Mr Monteath's Photographic Business, I hope, by strict attention to business, combined with artistic work, to merit a fair share of patronage from the public of Geelong and district.
W. H. WATTS,
Photographer,
Ryrie Street. .
July 10th, 1896.'
In 1919, the Advertiser printed the following notice: 'The old established business of the late W H Watts, photographer, Ryrie St is to be offered for sale by auction at 2 pm tomorrow by Messrs Hendy, Leary & Co, and if not sold as a whole will be sold in lots without reserve.'
Sources: Geelong Advertiser 29 April 1893 p3; Geelong Advertiser 13 July 1896 p3; Geelong Advertiser 27 November 1917; Geelong Advertiser 24 April 1919 p3; Geelong Advertiser 19 August 1943 p9; Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p334 (citing The Pegasus; National Archives).