Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt WWI-era photographs, 1914-1916
Scope and Contents
Photograph album consisting of 126 original captioned photographs capturing Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt's service in the French Aeronautique Militaire.
Dates
- Creation: 1914 - 1916
Conditions Governing Access
This material is open for research use by any registered reader.
Conditions Governing Use
This material is owned by the University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections. Unpublished manuscripts are under copyright. Therefore, permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from both the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Walter Oswald Watt, usually called Oswald, although sometimes called Toby or Ossie was an Australian aviator in the early part of the 20th century. Living in Britain when the First World War broke out, he volunteered his services and his plane to the French, becoming an ordinary soldier in the Aviation Militaire section of the French Foreign Legion, although he was informally acknowledged by his former rank in the New South Wales Scottish Rifles. He was awarded the Légion d'Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. In 1916 he transferred to the newly formed Australian Flying Corps, becoming a squadron commander. By February 1918, Lt. Col. Watt commanded 4 squadrons of the Australian training wing at Tetbury, Gloucestershire. In 1919, he received an O.O.B.E. After the war, he was elected president of the New South Wales section of the Australian Aero Club. He remained highly involved with flying and improving safety for pilots. Watt drowned at Bilgola Beach, Newport, New South Wales, on 21 May 1921. The Oswald Watt Gold Medal is an Australian aviation award named for him, and is awarded for "A most brilliant performance in the air or the most notable contribution to aviation by an Australian or in Australia" by the Royal Federation of Aero Clubs of Australia.
Extent
0.25 Linear Feet (1 album)
Language of Materials
English
Physical Location
Collection shelved on 3rd floor.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase
Subject
- France. Armée. Escadrille 30 (Organization)
- France. Armée. Escadrille 44 (Organization)
- Garros, Roland, 1888-1918 (Person)
- Watt, Oswald, 1878-1921 (Person)
Source
- Tavistock Books (Bookseller, Organization)
- Title
- Walter Oswald "Toby" Watt WWI-era photographs, 1914-1916
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Milissa Burkart
- Date
- 2013-09
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The University of Tulsa, McFarlin Library, Department of Special Collections & University Archives Repository
McFarlin Library
University of Tulsa
2933 E. 6th St
Tulsa 74104-3123 USA
(918) 631-2496
speccoll@utulsa.edu