One Family, Two Uniforms
The Watsons in the World Wars
The two uniforms presented here belonged to Arthur Donald (Donald) Watson (1889–1934) and his daughter Patricia Elizabeth Watson (1920–2003) respectively and cover both World Wars with the ribbons, patches and badges detailing their service and rank.
Donald’s service is a story in two parts. After serving with the 9th Regiment of the 1st Australian Light Horse, the 4th Field Artillery Brigade and 2nd Division Artillery he was selected for Officer’s training, and promoted to Lieutenant in October 1917. After this, Donald’s service faltered. He faced three courts martial for drunkenness in 1918 resulting in dismissal in September 1918. Donald subsequently signed onto King Edwards Horse in Dublin as a reservist where he met and then married Violet Campbell (1895–1987) returning to Australia in May 1919.
Patricia’s record of service in WWII was smoother. After returning from service as a Voluntary Aid in the Middle East in February 1943 Patricia was absorbed into the newly formed Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS). The AAMWS was designed to control the large number of VAs serving in military hospitals and was organised as a military service with its soldiers and officers subject to military law. This shift is reflected in Patricia’s new uniform which was no longer the navy blue of the VAD but army khaki.
In August 1943 Patricia was attached to the 2/9 Australian General Hospital (AGH) and served in New Guinea. After returning to Australia and prior to her discharge in February 1946 Patricia was promoted to Corporal and attached to the 106 AGH at Bonegilla. Upon discharge Patricia returned to the family’s property ‘Gerogery East,’ gave talks on her war service to local community groups, and later lived in Albury with her mother, Violet.
