BX October 28, 1916

Flight Lieutenant John Ruskin Watts is Missing – Son of A.A. Watts of New York who Resided in Brantford Was in Raid

Flight Lieut. Ruskin Watts of the British Flying Corps, son of A.A. Watts, New York, grandson of Mrs. Alfred Watts, Brant Avenue, with whom he had been residing for a number of years, and nephew of County Clerk A.E. Watts, is reported missing.

Flight Lieut. Watts was a member of the Bank of Nova Scotia staff in this city, previous to joining with the Flying Corps. He trained at Long Branch, Toronto flying school, and at Newport, then, after qualifying, joining the British Flying Corps.

Flight Lieut. Watts had been engaged up to a short time ago in taking machines from England to the aviation depots in France. About two weeks ago he joined the flyers who work over the lines, and he is now reported officially to be missing after a flight over the enemy lines.

BX December 20, 1918

Flight Lieutenant Ruskin Watts Now in Jutland – Local Aviator Freed After Imprisonment Following Fight with Hun

From the British War Office a message has been sent to Brantford that Flight-Lieutenant John Ruskin Watts, grandson of Mrs. Alfred Watts, has reached Jutland. Flight Lieutenant Watts was formerly a member of the Bank of Nova Scotia staff in this city, and he was well and popularly known. Two years ago the young aviator was brought down in a fight over the German lines, and has been a prisoner in Germany since.

At the time of the proposed exchange of prisoners a few months ago Lieutenant Watts had reached the German border, but when the Germans wanted the release of submarine commanders in exchange from the British, he was returned to his internment camp.

There is some perplexity as to why he should be sent to Jutland. The message said that full particulars would be forwarded.

BX June 10, 1919

Brant Aviator Told His Story – Lieutenant Ruskin Watts Was Prisoner of the Germans After Being Shot Down

At a memorial service held at Westfield, N.J. on May 25, one of the features was the story of Lieutenant John Ruskin Watts of the Royal Air Force. Lieut. Watts was shot down as early as October 22, 1916, and remained a German prisoner from that time until the end of the war. A Westfield paper reports:

He described in detail how he was detached from his other comrades in the air and was attacked by six Boche machines. His gasoline tank was punctured by an explosive bullet, drenching him with the contents of the tank. His engine went cold and it was necessary for him to get to the ground as quickly as possible. Upon alighting he was surrounded by the German aviators and was accorded the most courteous attention. This courteous attention was continued until he was sent to staff headquarters at Cambrai, at which time his clothes were stolen from him. He was confined to a room with about one hundred and fifty other prisoners under the most insanitary conditions, and had he not been immediately transferred to a camp in the middle of Germany there is little doubt but that he would not have lived to come back to this country.

After being transferred to the interior of Germany, he was associated with about seven hundred other prisoners – all officers. He roughly described the prisoners as representing three classes. One class attempted to get all the alcoholic stimulants possible so as to remain in a state of stupor until their condition was bettered; a second class attempted to get hold of technical books and study or make a careful investigation of the European languages; and the third, of which Lieutenant Watts was a member, spent their time formulating plans for escape.

The description of how these boys worked for six months to make a compass, to collect food and knapsacks in which to carry it, and to build a tunnel 70 feet long and 12 feet underground, was one of the most interesting stories that Westfield has had the privilege hearing. However, after six months of strenuous labor, of hiding every phase of their work, they were betrayed to the Germans by an Irish corporal, and seven of the men who were connected with the work were sentenced to solitary confinement for seven months.

Lieut. Watts said that two of the seven really did not know much about their plans, and the others attempted to tell the Germans, but they were not believed, so that two of the men had to suffer untold agonies and were not guilty of any indiscretions.