Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Army of India 1799-1826, 2 clasps, Nepaul, Bhurtpoor (Major Wm. L. Watson, Adjt. Genl.) short hyphen reverse, officially impressed naming, minor edge bruising, good very fine £3000-3500

24 Army of India Medals with these clasps.

William Larkin Watson was born in Calcutta, India in 1784, the son of Captain Samuel Watson, Bengal Army and Mary, his second wife. Having served as a Cadet In England, he was appointed an Ensign on 9 November 1800 and returned to India on 9 December 1800. He was advanced to Lieutenant in September 1803; Captain in January 1815; Major in May 1824 and attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in February 1827. Initially posted to the 2/8th N.I. in April 1801, he was transferred to the 11th N.I. and thence to the 22nd N.I. in 1804. Serving in the Second Mahratta War 1804-05, he was severely wounded in the Second Assault on Bhurtpore, 21 January 1805. Serving in the Nepaul War 1814-16, he served as Assistant Adjutant General, being appointed 1st A.A.G of the Army in 1816. In 1818 he transferred to the 1/22nd N.I. as 1st A.A.G. of the Army (with official rank of Major) and in 1825 was appointed A.G. (with official rank of Lieutenant-Colonel). In the latter capacity he served at the siege of Bhurtpore, January 1826. In 1827 he was posted as Lieutenant-Colonel of the 27th N.I., and thence to the 2nd European Regiment in April 1828; the 43rd N.I. in September 1828; and the 53rd N.I. in 1829. For his services he was awarded the C.B. on 2 January 1827. Lieutenant-Colonel Watson retired on 9 May 1830 and died at Harwood House, Pittville, Cheltenham on 6 April 1852.

Sold with a fine miniature portrait by Henry Bone of Watson in uniform, in wooden glass-fronted frame, 194 x 165mm., the case reverse inscribed, ‘W. L. Watson, at 37, taken at Cawnpore 10 April 1821 ... ‘. Also with a quantity of copied research.