Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Sold by Order of the Family

The Boer War Medal awarded to Major H. S. Watson, Glamorganshire Yeomanry, late Border Horse, a cousin of Lieutenant-Colonel T. C. Watson, V.C.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (L. Corpl. H. S. Watson, Border Horse), good very fine £100-120

Herbert Sarsfield Watson was born in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, in 1863, the only son of Jonas and Emily Watson, and was educated at Eton and Oriel College, Oxford.

A keen horseman, who devoted his spare time to steeplechases, he enlisted as a Trooper in the Border Horse on the outbreak of the Boer War, served latterly as a Lance-Corporal, and was awarded the Queen’s Medal & 3 clasps. Having then married Virginia Kate Dixon on his return to the U.K. - she was a noted huntswoman - Watson settled at Llansannar Court, Cowbridge, an Elizabethan manor house, from whence, in August 1914, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in Glamorganshire Yeomanry, aged 51 years. And although his request to go overseas was turned down on account of his advanced years, he lent valuable service as an instructor in riding and cycling, and was advanced to Major - on one occasion, on his cycling course, it is said ‘old Major Watson’ rode all his subalterns to a complete standstill.

The Major, who was a J.P. for Glamorganshire, and a keen follower of flat racing, died in April 1935, while returning from Gibraltar, and was buried at sea, soon after which the church cross at Llansannar was restored to his memory.