824 Trooper Everard Keith Watt - Bairnsdale Killed in Action 11 July 1915

….. estimable young man who enlisted with his brother

The Watt children, Lydia, Charles, Keith and Ruth were all born in Bairnsdale to Joseph and Sarah Watt, with Keith being born in 1893. Joseph was a surveyor and by 1910 he had moved the family to Kellerberrin in Western Australia. Keith, 21, and his brother Charles, 22, both enlisted on 5 January 1915 and joined the 3rd Reinforcements 10 th  Light Horse. They both trained at Blackboy Hill in Western Australia before sailing together on the Itonus on 19 February 1915. They were in Egypt a short time before departing Alexandria for Gallipoli on 16 May 1915. One month later Keith had contracted measles and was transferred off shore to a hospital ship until he returned to his unit just two days before he died. Keith was buried at Ari Burnu cemetery at Gallipoli. Charles was discharged in England in June 1917 and was granted a commission in the Imperial Army. An engraved mural brass tablet that had been donated by Keith’s friends was unveiled at the Anglican Church at Kellerberrin in November 1915 dedicated to an estimable young man.