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| Name: |
Herbert Gilles Watson |
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| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Rank: |
Captain |
| Service: |
Australian Flying Corps |
| Unit: |
4 (AFC) |
| Victories: |
14 |
| Born: |
30 March 1889 |
| Place of Birth: |
Caversham, Dunedin |
| Died: |
Early 1940s |
| Place of Death: |
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A depot manager from Sydney, Herbert Gilles Watson enlisted in 2 New South Wales Signal Troop, 2 Light Horse Brigade on 28 October 1914. He departed Australia for overseas service in late December 1914 and underwent training in Egypt. He was wounded at Gallipoli in the summer of 1915 and evacuated to England. He transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1917 and was posted to 4 Squadron (AFC) on 5 February 1918. With this unit he scored 14 victories and was the highest scoring New Zealand ace to serve in the AFC. He returned to service with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II but died sometime during the early 1940s. Watson's medals are held by the Australian War Memorial.
Listed as Herbert Gillis Watson in the London Gazette. |
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| Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) |
Lt. Herbert Gillis Watson (Australian Flying Corps).
Whilst on offensive patrol he encountered several Pfalz scouts, one of which he shot down. He has also in three weeks shot down four enemy machines and destroyed a balloon, attacking the latter at 6,000 feet, following it down to 1,000 feet, when it burst into flames.
Supplement to the London Gazette, 3 August 1918 (30827/9204) |
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| Victories |
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Date |
Time |
Unit |
Aircraft |
Opponent |
Location |
| 1 |
19 Apr 1918 |
1215 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (B7406) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
E of Loos |
| 2 |
11 May 1918 |
1805 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (B7406) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
NE of Armentières |
| 3 |
30 May 1918 |
1650 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8116) |
Albatros D.V (OOC) |
Estaires |
| 4 |
06 Jun 1918 |
1630 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8116) |
Balloon (DES) |
N of Sailly |
| 5 |
17 Jun 1918 |
1950 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D9422) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Laventie |
| 6 |
17 Jun 1918 |
1950 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D9422) |
Pfalz D.III (DES) |
E of Laventie |
| 7 |
25 Jun 1918 |
1940 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (C8300) |
AGO C (DES) |
Bac St. Maur |
| 8 |
26 Jun 1918 |
1810 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (C8300) |
Pfalz D.III (DESF) |
SE of Armentières |
| 9 |
15 Jul 1918 |
1725 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
Pfalz D.III (OOC) |
Armentières |
| 10 |
25 Jul 1918 |
0410 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
Balloon (DES) |
S of Comines |
| 11 |
04 Aug 1918 |
2015 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
AGO C (DES) 1 |
S of Laventie |
| 12 |
08 Aug 1918 |
2015 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
DFW C (OOC) |
Comines |
| 13 |
16 Sep 1918 |
0625 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
Fokker D.VII (OOC) |
Le Quesnoy |
| 14 |
02 Oct 1918 |
0615 |
4 (AFC) |
Sopwith Camel (D8159) |
Balloon (DES) |
Capinghem-Wez Macquart |
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| 1 |
Shared with Lt Elwyn King |
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