David Watt (1896-1971)

Category

Library Item

Item no

27889

Title

David Watt (1896-1971)

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1915

Type

Photograph

Having been raised in Canada, David missed the open air and country life of his early years when his mother Jessie moved 10 year old David and younger sister Mollie back to Edinburgh in 1906. Once back, David continued his education at Flora Stevenson's at Comely Bank. As a child David was an active boy, and won prizes for gymnastics. He was part of the Boys Brigade, a church group, and their annual camp was the only holiday the family could afford.

When David could leave school at 14, he sought an apprenticeship and had two interviews; the first with an ironmonger on George Street, and the second with Mr. William Irvine, a stationer on 63 Queen Street.
Mr. Irvine was the first to respond and therefore David took the apprenticeship, earning 4 shillings, 6 pence (equal to 23 new pence) per week. In 1914 when WWI broke out, David tried to volunteer, but his enlistment required the permission of his Master Mr. Irvine, which Mr. Irvine would not grant. This likely saved David's life, as nearly all the volunteers in 1914 did not survive the war.

In 1915, when David turned 18, his apprenticeship ended and he joined the Army. However, while being vaccinated, David and two others were given the vaccines with a dirty needle. One man died, another was discharged, and David was sent to Flora Stevenson, which now functioned as a military hospital, to convalesce. Once David had recovered, he was moved to West London, but damaged a nerve in his right arm, the permanent effect of which became an illegible script. David went on to serve on the front lines in 1916, when his unit was sent to France. With his unit was eventually disbanded, David elected to join the Mounted Military Police.

In August 1919 David was released from his service and returned to Edinburgh. However, life had changed significantly in David's absence; Mr. Irvine had died and his business had closed. David was able to find a position with Mr. Michael Thomson, a stationer who owned a shop on the corner of George Street and South Castle Street, which David managed for 8 years before he was promoted to commercial traveller.
It was not long after returning to Edinburgh that David met Catherine "Cassie" Ritchie. While the couple planned to marry, the hard economic times forced them to wait 7 years before they could afford the wedding. They married 10 July 1926 and their son David Ritchie Watt was born the following year on 13 May 1927.

David continued his sucessful career as a stationer, and by the 1950s, David owned 80% of his company. When he was not working David enjoyed playing golf and rennovating the gardens of the various homes he owned over the years.

David Watt died on Thursday 6 March 1971 of a massive heart attack; he was 74. His wife Cassie survived him by 13 years.

Image from the David Ritchie Watt Family Album.

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Clothing and dress > Garments > Uniforms

People > Adults > Men

People > Military activities > Soldiers