LEADING STOKER MECHANIC WILLIAM MORTIMER WATTS R31774 RAN
William Watts was born in Taree NSW in September 1928 and enlisted in the RAN on the 17th of July 1946 to serve for two years from his 18th birthday, at which time he was rated Stoker 2nd Class. In March 1947 William posted to HMAS Manoora, a former passenger ship, which had been converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser in 1939 and later to an Amphibious Assault Ship (LCI). He joined Manoora at the very end of her naval career as the ship was decommissioned in November 1947 and ultimately returned to her owners. William was advanced to the rank of Stoker Mechanic whilst on Manoora.
When Manoora decommissioned, William posted to Cerberus for nine months before discharging “End of Engagement” in September 1948 and then moving to Macksville on the NSW Mid-North Coast where he worked as a labourer.
In the early 1950s the RAN, amid the Korean War, was crippled by a manpower shortage and former naval members were encouraged to re-enlist. In 1950 William had married Florence Wells in Marrickville in Sydney and the opportunity to get regular employment with a good wage probably enticed him to apply. He rejoined on the 15thof March 1952 and after a month at Cerberus joined the River Class Frigate HMAS Shoalhaven in Sydney. He would remain on Shoalhaven until April 1954 at which time he posted to the Sydney Shore Establishment HMAS Kuttabul. During his time on Shoalhaven the ship participated in observing nuclear bomb tests at Monte Bello Islands. The posting to Kuttabul came after he received a punishment of seven days in cells in February of that year.
In January 1956 William joined the Q Class Anti-Submarine Frigate HMAS Quadrant and then the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney in June 1947. He was advanced to Leading Stoker Mechanic in August 1957 and discharged from the RAN “End of Engagement” in May 1958.
On leaving the RAN the second time, he returned to the Mid-North Coast running a café in Nambucca Heads, and he later lived in Wyong NSW. His wife Florence passed away in 1961 at the age of just 31.
William Mortimer Watts passed away on the 4th of October 2017 aged 89. His body was cremated and his ashes interred in the Memorial Wall at Lavertys’ Funeral Home Macksville NSW.
