Herbert Gilles Watson

Although born in New Zealand, Watson was a clerk^[3] working in Sydney, Australia, at the outbreak of war.^[4] He enlisted in No. 2 Troop of the Australian Army Signal Corps on 28 October 1914.^[3] He left Australia in December 1914, sailing for the Middle East; he trained in Egypt. He served at Gallipoli in 1915, and was medically evacuated with wounds, to England.^[3]

Watson transferred to the Australian Flying Corps in 1917, and was trained in England. On 5 February 1918, he was assigned to 4 Squadron AFC as a Sopwith Camel pilot. He drove an Albatros D.V down out of control for his first victory, on 19 April 1918.^[5] He steadily accumulated triumphs, shooting down eight aircraft by the end of June. Watson was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in mid-July.^[6] His final tally was three enemy observation balloons destroyed, including one set afire; four enemy fighters destroyed; an enemy observation plane destroyed in conjunction with Lieutenant Elwyn King; four enemy fighters and an observation plane driven down out of control. As he completed his string of wins, he was appointed a flight commander with the rank of captain.^[5]

Postwar, Watson became a horse breeder in Victoria.^[5] He died on 29 March 1942 in Victoria, Australia; his will named his widow, Rosalie Grace Watson, as executor of his estate.^[7]