Senior Constable Oswald Travase WATTS

On 27 November, 1955 Senior Constable Watts attended a traffic accident on the Hume Highway at Gunning Gap, just north of Yass. As he was standing beside a semi-trailer speaking to a motorist who had ignored a flagman he saw a truck approaching at high speed. He dived beneath the semi-trailer to get out of the way however as he stood up on the far side of the semi it was hit by the speeding truck. Constable Watts was hit and pinned between the semi-trailer and another vehicle, sustaining internal injuries. He was admitted to the Yass District Hospital. Although resuming full duties the following month, Constable Watts’ health deteriorated and he was discharged medically unfit on 18 May, 1961. He died on 21 April, 1965.

The constable was born in 1905 and joined the New South Wales Police Force on 13 June, 1928. At the time of his injury he was stationed at Yass.