WATTS, Ray

Ray Watts was a fine 188 cm centre half-forward and full-forward, from Churinga in the Northern Tasmania Football League where he had won that League's Best and Fairest award in 1935. He was a gentle giant and an excellent mark and kick.

He was Essendon's second top goalkicker in 1938 and third in 1939 and 1940. He kicked seven goals in a game in 1938, 1939 and 1940 and six goals also in each of those years.

He won the Best Clubman award in 1938 and the Most Unselfish Player award in 1939. He was also a member of the Seconds premiership team in 1941.

Watts joined the Royal Australian Air Force in 1941. As a Warrant Officer he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross when he and Pilot Officer Arthur Simpson safely brought their Lancaster bomber back after a collision with a German night fighter over Hanover in October, 1943. The fighter tore a hole in the bomber's nose and it dropped 3000 ft but the pilot still managed to successfully bomb the target. The crew made the unusual claim that "the enemy fighter was destroyed in collision".

He was shot down over Germany in 1944 and lived in a pine forest with the Belgian underground for six weeks before being captured and spending over a year in a German prisoner-of-war camp.

Watts returned to Essendon in late 1945 and kicked 16 goals in the last game with the Seconds in that year.

In 1946, he transferred to Preston because of leg problems but only lasted for a short time. He then played with the Repatriation Department until 1953.

Watts worked in the Defence Department until 1966 and transferred his commission to the Army Reserve where he retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Ray Watts died on 17th January, 2008.