Gordon Watt

Gordon Watt

Male 1918 - 2001  (82 years)

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  • Name Gordon Watt 
    Birth 8 Sep 1918  Wellington, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Address:
    Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand 
    Gender Male 
    Occupation May 1934  [2
    Royal Navy 
    • Gordon was a ship's gunner on the cruiser HMS Leander when war broke out in 1939. (Armament of 8 x 6 inch and 4 x 4 inch guns).
      Leander was transferred to the newly-formed RNZ Navy in 1940 and Gordon spent most of WWII aboard her.
      In July 1943 Leander was part of Rear Admiral Walden Lee Ainsworth's Task Group 36.1. It comprised 3 cruisers, 2 destroyers and 2 US light cruisers. In an action off Kolombangara, Solomon Islands the Task Group attacked a Japanese cruiser Jintsu which was accompanied by five destroyers. Jintsu was sunk and all three allied cruisers were hit by torpedoes. Leander was so badly damaged that she took no further part in the war. 28 of her crew were killed.
      Gordon was stationed on various ships in the North Sea undertaking troop and convoy protection. In Stranraer, Scotland he met Carherine Byrnes and married in that port in 1945.
    Death 2001  Auckland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Age: 83y 
    Address:
    Ranfurly War Veteran's Home, Auckland, New Zealand 
    Person ID I149  Hannaway
    Last Modified 27 Apr 2018 

    Father William Watt,   b. 22 Mar 1875, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Feb 1933, New Plymouth, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 57 years) 
    Mother Jeannie Rookes,   b. 8 Dec 1880, Dundee, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 7 Mar 1963, Auckland, New Zealand Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Marriage 6 Jan 1906  Dundee, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Address:
    St Luke's Manse, Lochee, Dundee, Scotland 
    • Witnesses: John Hackney and Isabella Watt (Church of Scotland).
      Witness Role: Witness Name: John Hackney
      Witness Role: Witness Name: Isabella Watt
      Witness Role: Minister Name: Wm May
      Witness Role: Church of Scotland Minister, St Luke's Parish, Lochee
    Family ID F169  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Rosetta Graham 
    Marriage 1939  [2
    Divorce 1942  [2
    Family ID F174  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 27 Jul 2016 

    Family 2 Kate Byrnes,   b. 19 Nov 1919, Ummeracam, Silverbridge, County Armagh, Ireland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Marriage 3 Jul 1945  Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Children 
     1. Bruce Watt
     2. Dennis Watt
     3. Kerry Watt
    Family ID F50  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 18 Aug 2017 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - Address:
    Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand - 8 Sep 1918 - Wellington, New Zealand
    Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 3 Jul 1945 - Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Age: 83y,Address:
    Ranfurly War Veteran's Home, Auckland, New Zealand - 2001 - Auckland, New Zealand
    Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Photos
    Watt, Kate (née Byrnes), Bruce,Gordon _Bruce 21st birthday New Zealand
    Watt, Kate (née Byrnes), Bruce,Gordon _Bruce 21st birthday New Zealand
    Kate Watt (née Byrnes), son Bruce and Gordon Watt. Bruce's 21st birthday New Zealand.
    Keywords: Picture
    Watt, Gordon & Kate Byrnes 1945
    Watt, Gordon & Kate Byrnes 1945
    Gordon Watt & Kate Byrnes 1945
    Keywords: Picture
    Watt, Kate (née Byrnes), Bruce,Gordon _Bruce 21st birthday New Zealand
    Kate Watt (née Byrnes), son Bruce and Gordon Watt. Bruce's 21st birthday New Zealand.
    Keywords: Picture

  • Notes 
    • When they met Gordon was in the Royal Navy, Mother (Sarah Mackin) did not approve. Emigrated to New Zealand in 1944. In about 1980 (?) visited UK for about 6 months.Stayed with Sarah Hannaway, (Lang St?) and in NI with the Byrnes relatives.(Red Book).

  • Sources 
    1. [S55] Bruce Watt, New Zealand.
      Newtown: 41°18'32.7"S 174°47'07.0"E

    2. [S55] Bruce Watt, New Zealand.

    3. [S125] Scotland's People website: https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/, Marriages in the District of Lochee in the Burgh of Dundee. (Reliability: 3).