Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Memorial Stone erected March 2015, Laichengen Germany

Inscription – Memorial Stone erected March 2015, Laichengen Germany

Memorial – Portion of NN758 found near Laichengen, Germany

Memorial – Flight Lieutenant Alastair Clarence Watt is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flight Lieutenant Alastair Clarence Watt is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

Merrickville Remembers – This project was sponsored jointly by the Canadian Legion Branch 245 and the Merrickville District Community Health Centre. Serving on the Committee were Jack Jessop, Past President of Legion Branch 245; Joyce McKay, who lost a brother in the Second World War; Peter McKenna, Executive Director of Merrickville and District Community Health Centre; and Jack Wilcox, who upon discharge from the Canadian Army in 1945, prepared the Sydney Academy Memorial Booklet honouring the students of the Academy who gave their lives in the Second World War.

Memorial Page – Alistair Watt is honoured on page 36 of the Merrickville Remembers booklet, published in January 2003.

Investigative Report – #2 Missing Research & Enquiry Unit Report pg 1 This is page 1 of a report by the RAF casualty search units that traced down the missing air crew from WWII. It contains all of the facts that they had managed to gather to that point in time. This information was found during the research of one of his crew, the Air Bomber Bill Fetherston Source: Library and Archives Canada RG112 Vol 30643 via R Whitehouse

Investigative Report Page 2 – #2 Missing Research & Enquiry Unit Report pg 2 This page states that the searchers actually saw the remains of the aircraft and identified it as a Lancaster with the number NN 758 on it. They found that there had been a survivor of the crew (Bellisle) though they did not know his name as yet. They took action to register the grave for the graves concentration units that were to follow. Source: Library and Archives Canada RG112 Vol 30643 via R Whitehouse

Crash Report – CRASHED BRITISH AIRCRAFT Report This is the Air Ministry report on the aircraft found just north of Laichingen, Germany. It identifies Watts aircraft by Roundel numbers, aircraft part serial numbers etc. This is F/O Watts aircraft. Source: Library and Archives Canada RG112 Vol 30643 via R Whitehouse

Post Presumption Memo – Post Presumption Memo 45/49 This memo closed the case for Watts' crew. Source: Library and Archives Canada RG112 Vol 30643 via R Whitehouse

Letter – Minute #1 (29 Sept 45) Details of the Watts crew investigation. Source: Library and Archives Canada RG112 Vol 30643 via R Whitehouse

Grave Marker

Crash site – Crash site of Lancaster NN758 near Laichingen Germany. Casualties were: F/LT A.C. Watt RCAF F/Sgt A.E. Wotherspoon RCAF F/Sgt W.H Fetheraton RCAF F/Sgt J.S. Jackson RAF F/Sgt G.W. Blackshaw RAF F/Sgt J.S. Hickey RAF One crew member survived, F/Sgt A.C. Bellisle (RCAF) who was captured and taken POW at Stalag 5A. F/Sgt Bellisle returned to Canada after the war.

Group photo – Crew of Lancaster NN758, lost on the night of 17 March 1945. F/Lt A.C. "Al" Watt, Pilot (RCAF, J/89387)KIA 17-MAR-45 Sgt. J.F. “Jim” Jackson, Flight Engineer (RAF, 3040028) KIA 17-MAR-45 F/Sgt. W.H. “Bill” Fetherston, Bomb Aimer(RCAF, R/190659) KIA 17-MAR-45 F/Sgt. G.W. “George” Blackshaw, Navigator (RAF, 1620678) KIA 17-MAR-45 F/Sgt. J.S. “Stan” Hickey, Wireless Operator (RAF, 1230658) KIA 17-MAR-45 F/Sgt. A.C. Bellisle, Mid-Upper Gunner (RCAF, R/271059) POW 18-MAR-45 (Stalag 5a) F/Sgt. A.E. “Al” Wotherspoon, Rear Gunner (RCAF, R/192267) KIA 17-MAR-45

Temporary Grave Marker – Original burial site of the Al Watt crew.

Temporary Grave Marker – Durnbach grave site.

Cemetery – Original burial location today.

Crash site – Crash site looking toward Lachigen.

Photo of Alastair Clarence Watt – Al Watt (Recruit)

Photo of Alastair Clarence Watt – Al Watt (Pilot)

Cemetery – Final Grave Site, Durnbach

Group Photo – F/Lt A C Watt and Crew

Group Photo – F/Lt A C Watt and Crew

Group Photo – F/Lt Alastair Watt and his brother Cpl Leslie Watt, circa September 1944, England

Group Photo – F/Lt Alastair Watt and the Bellisle brothers, England 1944