Sir Robert Watson Watt

Former Brechin High School
- Born in Brechin on 13th April 1892
- Attended Damacre Primary School and Brechin High School
- Won a bursary to St Andrew’s University and studied electrical engineering at University College, Dundee
- Served as assistant to Prof. William Peddie (St Andrews University) developing an interest in radio waves
- In 1915 started work as a meteorologist for the Aircraft Factory, Farnborough
- By 1942 he was working at the Radio Research Station and then became head of the National Physics Laboratory’s new radio department at Slough
- Early in 1935 was joint author of an Air Ministry report entitled ‘The Detection of Aircraft by Radio Methds’
- On 26 February 1935 a secret and highly successful trial using a short radio transmitter took place at Daventry
- He was appointed head of the newly established Bawdsey Radio Research Station near Felix
Click to enlarge - By the outbreak of war in 1939, as a result of work done by the team led by Watson-Watt, a radar defence system – code name ‘Chain Home’ – was designed an built along the East and South coasts of Britain, which played a crucial part in the defeat of the German Luftwaffe
- His book ‘Three Steps to Victory’ details his team’s achievements during World War II
- Robert Watson-Watt was elected FRS and knighted in 1942
- He died on 5 December 1973 and is buried at Pitlochry