Family name:
WATTS
Given names:
Stanley Keevil
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Church of England
Date of birth:
1 January 1896
Place of birth:
Birth
Armadale, Victoria
, Australia
37° 51' 20.7432" S, 145° 1' 7.4172" E
Military service:
WW1
Regimental number:
13084
Rank:
Dvr Military units:
Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company 1, Section 2
Date of death:
21 November 1968
Place of death:
Death
Hampton, Victoria
, Australia
37° 56' 11.5296" S, 145° 0' 9.6912" E
Biographical notes:
(Alfred) Stanley Keevil Watts was born in 1896 in Armadale. He was the son on Walter Keevil Watts and his wife, Charlotte (Lottie) nee Watson. Charlotte died in 1902 and Walter married divorcee, Jessica Keast, nee Bowes. They moved with their children to 130 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne. This was one of a terrace of three built and owned by Walter’s father, Thomas Watts, who had lived next door for many years. When he enlisted on 6 April 1916 Stanley gave his occupation as bank teller. He named as his next of kin his father. Stanley had had military experience of three years with the Senior Cadets and 2½ years with the Citizens’ Forces. With the rank of Private he was allotted to ‘C’ Coy, 22nd Depot Battalion at Royal Park from 15 April 1916 to 24 April 1916, then with the Army Medical Corps for five days, then he went to Ascot Vale for two months before being transferred back to Royal Park. He was at the Alfred Hospital until 20 September 1916 when he was appointed to the Australian Auxiliary Mechanical Transport Company as a Driver.
He embarked aboard HMAT Persic on 22 December 1916 and disembarked at Devonport on 3 March 1917. He was sent to France from No 3 Camp, Parkhouse on 20 June 1917 and joined the 2nd Divisional Supply Column on the Western Front. He would have been involved in the Battles of Bullecourt, Ypres, Menin Road and Broodseinde. He was given leave to the UK from 24 February to 12 March 1918 and was afterwards taken on strength of 2nd Australian Divisional Motor Transport Company as a driver. His unit by then was in the Somme region and present at the Battles of Hamel in July and Amiens in August. He was granted leave to Paris on 6 February 1919 where he caught flu and was admitted to the 6th Canadian Hospital. He rejoined his unit on 28 February 1919. On 10 May 1919 he sent back to England to await demobilization.
He returned to Australia 7 July 1919, disembarking on 5 September 1919. He was discharged 13 October 1919.
He married Adeline Julia Culhane. He died on 21 November 1968 at Hampton. The Probate Index gives his occupation as retired civil servant.
Relationship:
Step-brother of Raymond Fairbairn KEAST