Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Friday 27 May 1921, page 9


LATE COL. WATT.

A FRENCH TRIBUTE.

On the occasion of the funeral of Colonel Watt on Monday last a beautiful wreath was received, bearing the inscription: "Un group de Français au regrette Colonel Oswald Watt, chevalier de la legion d'honneur decore de la Croix de Guerre."

The late Colonel Watt's love for France and hls admiration for the French nation knew no bounds, and nothing could have pleased his family and intimate friends more than to feel that his esteem and affection were re-turned. Mr. Ernest Watt, brother of the de-ceased officer, has expressed deep gratitude for the anonymous tribute.

Mr. Edward J. Hart, hon. secretary of the Australian Aero Club, New South Wales sec-tion, yesterday received a letter from Colonel H. C. Brinsmead, Controller of Civil Aviation, in which, referring to the death of Col. Watt, he said: "I very much doubt if there was anyone else in Australia whose passing away would cause so many men to feel that they had lost the best and truest friend they had in the world, and I can imagine no finer epitaph. It is a great grief to me that I can-not come to Sydney to pay my last respects to him, but I had previously arranged to be present when poor Ross is buried. It was the blackest week-end for me since the Easter of '18, and I am sure it has been equally dis-tressing for you, who so fully shared my affection and esteem for our friend."

[Major Hubert Galsworthy Ross, referred to in Colonel Brinsmead's letter, was killed in a flying accident in Melbourne on Sunday last.]