Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, no clasp (Lt. H. Watson, 33rd Madras N,I.) good very fine £500-£600

Hugh Watson was born on 31 December 1831, and educated at Perth Academy and Addiscombe. Nominated for the H.E.I.C. Army by Major-General Sir Archibald Galloway, K.C.B. [one of the distinguished heroes of the Defence of Delhi in 1804 and now Chairman of the H.E.I.C.] and recommended by his father Hugh, a farmer from Keilor by Coupar, Angus.

He was gazetted Ensign on 13 June 1851, and sailed for India on the Gloriana on 8 September 1851; Lieutenant, 23 November 1856; Captain, 13 june 1863; Second-in-Command 2nd Hyderabad Cavalry Contingent 1863; Major, 13 June 1871; Lieutenant-Colonel, 13 June 1877; Commandant 1st Hyderabad Cavalry Contingent 1882; retired with honorary rank of Major-General, January 1882.

He was actively engaged during the Indian Mutiny in 1857-58, and was employed on field service with the Kamptee movable column in the Saugor and Nerbudda territories and Kalpore district, from July 17, 1857, to April 30, 1858, and was present at the affairs at Balakote, Nursinghur, Patun, Junapanee, and Khonee Pass, and the engagement at Kuttengee (Medal).

This latter action at Kuttengee [Kitanji] is specifically mentioned in the History of the Indian Mutiny, by Kaye & Malleson:

‘Between this place and Jabalpur, close to a village called Kitanji, flows a navigable river, the Hiran, the passage across which it was thought possible, might be disputed by the 52nd [Native Infantry rebels]. To secure the means of crossing it, a party consisting of the grenadier company 33rd Madras Native Infantry, under Lieutenant Watson, and a few troopers of the 4th, under Major Jenkins, left camp at two o’clock in the morning of the 26th. At daybreak, as they were nearing Kitanji, Jenkins and Watson, who were riding in front of their column, were suddenly fired at, and almost immediately surrounded. How they escaped it is difficult to imagine. It is however a fact that, notwithstanding the efforts of the Sipahis, they fought their way through them and reached their men. These were not numerous enough to take the aggressive. Jenkins, therefore, drew them up on a hill difficult to escalade, and there awaited the arrival of the main column.

To this column on the point of starting about six o’clock in the morning, information arrived, in an exaggerated form, of the events at Kitanji. The two European officers were reported killed, and the rebels were said to be pressing on in force. Eager to avenge their officers and relieve their comrades, the gallant native soldiers of the coast hurried forward. On reaching the mouth of the gorge leading to Kitanji, they found the 52nd had taken up a very strong position, both flanks covered by thick jungle. Without hesitating they opened fire from the guns, and then attacked the rebels with bayonet, and drove them before them. On reaching Kitanji they were joined by Jenkins and Watson.’

In his despatch to the Adjutant General of the Army, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Millar, commanding Kamptee Movable Column, Camp Kuttunghee, 28 September 1857, reported:

‘On our approaching Kuttunghee, we were agreeably surprised by Major Jenkins and Lieutenant Watson riding up to the column, they had succeeded in cutting their way through the ambuscade in the dark, and had concealed themselves in the hills until the advance of the column enabled them to rejoin us. Lieutenant Watson, I regret to say was wounded on the cheek by a musket ball, and knocked off his horse; his escape was most miraculous.’

Major-General Hugh Watson died on 12 June 1887, at Tower House, Grandtully, Perthshire.