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Call Number: Mss Sc 179, Pc 174 (A.03-86)
Title: Vaughan David Watt fonds.
Dates: 1916-1933.
Extent: 0.13 m of textual records. -- 4 photographs.
Biographical sketch: Vaughan David Watt was born in Birtle, Manitoba in 1892, the only son of David and Mary Jane (Jenny) Watt. David Watt farmed, worked as a grain buyer and was a Manager for the United Grain Growers for twenty-two years. Jenny was elected the first Secretary of the Federated Women’s Institute in 1910 and went on to become the National President of the organization from 1923 to 1925. The couple’s three children, Vaughan, Vera, and Nell, all attended the Oxford School. Vaughan helped his father on the farm and worked in the local Union Bank. He played baseball and was part of the Birtle Band. In 1916, he enlisted in Saskatoon as part of the 28th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). He was promoted to Lance-Corporal in May 1918. He was killed in France on August 9, 1918 and is buried in Rosieres Communal Cemetery Extension. One of his final letters home talks of returning to the farm to help his father.
Custodial history: The fonds was donated to University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections by Gwen Snow Zingle, Vaughan Watt’s niece, in 2003.
Scope and content: The fonds consists of a transportation warrant, correspondence between Watt and his family during his time serving in the First World War, letters of condolence upon his death, reports on his memorial service and burial, a letter of tribute to Watt, and photographs.
Restrictions: There are no restrictions on this material.
Accruals: No further accruals are expected.
Finding aid: An on-line finding aid is available at the link below:
MSS SC 179, PC 174 (A2003-86).
Digitized Material