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Auction: 26001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 242

A Great War M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant W. F. Watson, Rifle Brigade

Military Cross, G.V.R., 'Lieut, W. F. Watson, Rifle Brigade August 1917' privately engraved to reverse; British War and Victory Medals (Lieut. W. F. Watson); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R. (William Francis Watson, M.C.), mounted as worn, very fine (4)

M.C. London Gazette 26 October 1917:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was ordered to take his platoon to reinforce an attack, and led them across a river in broad daylight in the face of sniping and machine-gun fire. He mopped up several enemy dugouts, and then took charge of a portion of the line, and was largely responsibility for protexting the flank of the position against an enemy counter-attack. He showed the greatest courage and initiative' (London Gazette 18 March 1918 refers)

I.S.M. London Gazette 6 August 1943.

William Francis Watson worked in the Prison Service as a Subordinate Officer, Division I and was recorded in the Edinburgh Gazette as such on 5 December 1913. He then enlisted in March 1916 into the 16th Battalion, Rifle Brigade before later transferring to the 11th Battalion. He was wounded by a gunshot wound to the right leg in July 1916 and was later transferred back to Brighton in September. Upon his recovery, he was promoted 2nd Lieutenant on 26 April 1917 and was awarded the Military Cross for his action at Langemarck on 7 August 1917 as part of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Rifle Brigade Chronicle recalls the event:

'After the relief on August 7th the Eleventh Battalion was holding the front line of the brigade sector in depth between the Steenbeek and the road running through Iron Cross; The Tenth Battalion was on the west bank of the canal. The Eleventh Battalion was heavily shelled during the relief, Lieutenant J. E. S. Green and 2nd-Lieutenant Watson being wounded, the latter remaining at duty. At the same time the Battalion had its first experience of mustard gas.'

After the war, Watson returned to the Prison Service and was gazetted for his Imperial Service Medal as Chief Officer, Class II at H.M. Prison, Norwich.

Lot comes with recipient's casualty form and extensive copied research.

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Estimate
£800 to £1,200

Starting price
£600