Watt, Claude Z. (Second World War correspondence and other materials), 1918 - 1949, bulk 1942 March 14 - 1949 November 3

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Summary

Title:
Claude Z. Watt Second World War correspondence and other materials
Dates:
1918 - 1949, bulk 1942 March 14 - 1949 November 3
Creators:
Willis, Jean and Watt, Claude Zeverts, Corporal, 1919-1986
Abstract:
This collection contains correspondence and other materials relating to the service of Cpl. Claude Z. Watt, USA during the Second World War. Included are photographs, clippings, Nazi medals, and various books and pamphlets.
Containers:
box: WWII 115
folder: 8-12
folder: 1-5
box: Oversize 3
folder: 6-7
flat-box: Specimen box 2
Compartment: 4
Extent:
0.3 Linear Feet (2 folders, 1 flat box)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Claude Z. Watt Second World War correspondence and other materials (2019.033.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains correspondence and other materials relating to the service of Cpl. Claude Z. Watt, USA during the Second World War. Included are 30 correspondence, loose photographs and one album, one discharge document, two clippings, and artifacts including Nazi memorabilia, a French flag, one knitted piece of "trench art", four handkerchiefs, several pamphlets, a metal book of matches, nine uniform patches, one uniform decoration cord, and one bible. Of the correspondence, 22 were written by Cpl. Watt, the rest from various authors including one First World War postcard.

Biographical / historical:

Corporal Claude Zeverts Watt, United States Army (12/29/1919 - 2/15/1986) was born in Ray, Minnesota to Carl and Irtie Watt. He worked with his father as a carpenter and registered for the draft on July 1, 1941, entering into active service on March 13, 1942 at Fort Snelling. He attended boot camp at Camp Cooke in California and was assigned to the 58th Field Artillery Battalion.

Cpl. Watt was among the first to arrive on Omaha Beach during the invasion of Normandy. He was shot while evacuating his tank, an M7 Priest, in the ocean. He laid wounded on the beach for four hours before being retrieved by medics and taken to a relatively safe zone. He was shot a second time while in Germany, which earned him the oak leaf cluster for his Purple Heart. He spent some time in the hospital in England where he made some English friends, and made a friend in Belgium named Catherine Soullier.

According to the donor, his daughter, Watt was never a religious man after the war and ceased attending church due to his experiences. He married Joan Florence Savard in 1950 and they moved to Orange, California where they had a son and a daughter, Brian and Jean. Watt passed away in Orange in February, 1986 at the age of 66 and is interred at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of the family of Claude Watt, via Jean Willis.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged by material type:

  • Series 1, Correspondence from Claude Watt
  • Series 2, Correspondence from other authors
  • Series 3, Service documents
  • Series 4, Photographs
  • Series 5, Clippings
  • Series 6, Realia
  • Series 7, Books and pamphlets

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Andrew Harman
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2022-05-12 17:21:48 -0400 .

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions.

Preferred citation:

[Item title / description; Box "n" / Folder "n"], Claude Z. Watt Second World War correspondence and other materials (2019.033.w.r), Center for American War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Contact:
(714) 532-7716
privette@chapman.edu
Website