The Brian Kieran Collection

A Second World War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel R. A. D. Watson, Royal Engineers, the descendant of a Mutiny V.C. winner

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt, in its Royal Mint case of issue; 1914-15 Star (2 Lieut. R. A. D. Watson, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. R. A. D. Watson); India General Service 1908-35, 1 clasp, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919 (Capt. R. A. D. Watson, R.E.), the last four mounted as worn, minor official correction to initials on the last, somewhat polished, nearly very fine or better (4) £300-350

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Brian Kieran Collection.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 3 September 1940.

Robert Arthur Davis Watson, who was born in June 1896, a descendant of General Sir John Watson, Indian Army, who had won a particularly impressive V.C. for a hand to hand combat with a mutineer while serving in the Punjab Cavalry in the Indian Mutiny, receiving multiple tulwar and bullet wounds in the process. For his own part, young Robert was commissioned in the Royal Engineers in February 1915 and witnessed active service out in France and Flanders from August of that year until May 1916, and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from April 1917 until August 1918, including employment as an A.D.C. to the G.O.C. Egypt in the period January-March 1918, for which latter services he was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 11 June 1918 refers). Having then participated in the Third Afghan War while on attachment to the Indian Army, he took up an appointment as an Adjutant in the Territorials in the U.K. and was advanced to Major in August 1930. Returning to India in March 1934, as a Staff Officer 2nd Grade, he remained similarly employed until August 1937, and was advanced to Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1938.