A Second War campaign group of four awarded to Swordfish Observer Sub Lieutenant (A) J. K. M. ‘Tinker’ Watt, 818 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, who operated off the carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal, and was wounded in action carrying out a raid on Cagliari, 2 August 1940, and listed as missing presumed killed in action whilst carrying out a reconnaissance trying find the German battleship Scharnhorst, 15 March 1941

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Africa Star; War Medal 1939-45, with (2) Fleet Air Arm epaulettes, a number of Royal Navy uniform buttons good very fine (lot) £200-£300

John Kenneth Murray Watt was the son of Mrs O. M. Watt of Lane End, Great Houghton, Northamptonshire. He joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve prior to the Second World War, and saw operational service as an Observer with 818 Squadron, Fleet Arm (Swordfish). The latter was operating from the carrier H.M.S. Ark Royal during an attack in the early hours on Cagliari Harbour, 2 August 1940, when Watt was wounded, ‘While in action during a bombing raid over Cagliari, Sardinia he received a bullet wound from enemy gunfire in the back of the Rt. Shoulder.’ (Certificate for Wounds and Hurts included in the lot refers).

The above incident Watt described in a letter home, dated 3 September 1940, ‘The actual doing happened when a shell burst fairly “adjacent like” and a splinter took a small piece out of my back and a damn great piece out of a brand new shirt. Tragedy.’

Watt was listed as missing presumed killed in action when his aircraft failed to return from a reconnaissance searching for the German battleship Scharnhorst, 15 March 1941:
‘Day after day the fruitless searches went on... It was dull work, and it was still dangerous, as everyone was reminded when Sub Lieutenant (A) Ferguson’s Swordfish failed to return from a morning recco. Nothing more was heard of Ferguson or of Sub Lieutenant (A) J. K. M. Watt, R.N.V.R., his observer, though the area they had been patrolling was thoroughly searched.’ (Ark Royal 1939-1941 by Rear Admiral W. Jameson, K.B.E., C.B. refers).

Sub Lieutenant Watt has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial.

Sold with the following related original documents: Certificate for Wounds and Hurts, dated 11 August 1940; Certificate of the Inspector of Seaman’s Wills, dated 14 October 1941; Telegram from recipient to family at home, dated 1 December 1940; Admiralty Telegram to recipient’s mother informing her that he has been listed as missing presumed killed on active service, dated 24 March 1941; Admiralty Letter addressed to recipient’s mother confirming telegram, dated 25 March 1941; a number of letters written by recipient from various postings, dated between 2 November 1936 - 30 December 1941, including 3 September 1940 on Ark Royal paper when he describes his wound; other ephemera including an H.M.S. Ark Royal Christmas card, signed ‘Tinker’.