A multi-decorated Medical Officer's Great War 'Hospital Ship' & Second World War medal group of 5: Lieutenant-Colonel John William Watson, C.I.E., C.B.E., Indian Medical Service late Hospital Ship 'Loyalty'

Lt-Colonel John William Watson, had the distinction of being the Surgeon in charge of the Hospital Ship 'Loyalty' throughout the Great War 1914-1918. His medals comprise:

- 1914-15 Star (Lt. Col. J.W. Watson, I.M.S. Attd. H.S. "Loyalty.".)
- British War Medal. Silver issue (Lt-Col. J.W. Watson.)
- Interallied Victory Medal (Lt-Col. J.W. Watson.)
- Defence Medal: Medal roll not in public domain. Confirmed Officer Commanding Home Guard
- Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. Silver issue

Note: The War & Victory Medals with minor official corrections to prefix 'Lt' in rank - and exactly as issued

Thrice Decorated: Lieutenant-Colonel John William Watson, a British India born officer, who served more than 30 years in India, and was thrice decorated during his long and distinguished career with the Indian Medical Service, as under:

- Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire: Published in London Gazette issue of, 12 September 1919
- Commander of the Order of the British Empire (Military): Published in London Gazette issue of, 3 June 1929
- Mention-in-Despatches: Published in London Gazette issue of, 26 November 1918

Medals verification: All 5 x medals confirmed as entitled per the respective official medal rolls and sources as cited below:

- 1914-15 Star: Indian Army List January 1924, shows:- Hospital Ship "Loyalty" from 1 Sept. 1914 to 1 Dec. 1918
- British War Medal. Silver issue: WO 372/21/38183 Medal Index Card confirms to be issued by Government of India
- Interallied Victory Medal: WO 372/21/38183 Medal Index Card confirms to be issued by Government of India
- Defence Medal: 1939 National Register of England & Wales record him as Commandant of an A.R.P. Mobile Unit
- Delhi Durbar Medal 1911. Silver issue: WO 100/400

During the Second World War, Lt-Col J. W. Watson, C.I.E., C.B.E., served in a senior capacity throughout with the local Civil Defence service, and was the Commandant of the Air Raid Precautions First Aid Mobile Unit in Ringwood, Hampshire, England. The Hampshire Advertiser issue of, 31 August 1940, contained the following article:

Quote,

RINGWOOD A.R.P. EFFICIENCY

SERVICES TAKE PART IN DEMONSTRATION

Council Chairman's Praise

An A.R.O. demonstration was given under the auspices of the Ringwood and Fordingbridge Rural District Council, by the Ringwood voluntary civil defence services on Sunday. Those taking part were the air raid wardens, the British Red Cross Society, directed by Lt-col J. W. Watson and Miss Wavell, the St. John Ambulance, directed Mr. A. L. Fanner, the ambulances, directed by Mr. J. A. Shepherd, and the Auxiliary Fire Services, directed by Mr. R. A. Upstone. Capt. Vere Myles, deputy chief A.R.P. warden, was officer in charge of the report centre. The demonstration, under the direction of Capt. C. H. Warden, head warden, comprised four incidents, which were each explained by the head warden.

The first was the fall of H.E. bombs. Casualties were attended by A.R.P. wardens, pending the arrival of the first aid party, which was soon on the spot. The casualties were removed to the first aid post.

The next incident was the dropping of gas bombs, and again the A.R.P. wardens and first aid party had much to do.

The third incident showed how small fires caused by fire incendiary bombs were dealt with by the A.R.P. wardens with the aid of the stirrup pumps. The fourth incident brought the Auxiliary Fire Services into action, and their smartness was favourably commented upon

In addition, the mobile unit and an equipped warden's post were on view........

Unquote

Important: There is a wealth of potential research sources for this distinguished officer, first and foremost being the unique archive of family papers relating to John and his father's services in India and held and accessible at the, National Archives in the file series Mss Eur F244 located at the British Library: Asian and African Studies. The contents (28 x items) of this archive are stated to include:

Quote,

Papers and correspondence of Col John Whaley Watson (1838-89), Bombay Army 1854-89, his son Lt-Col John William Watson (1874-1962), Indian Medical Service 1898-1929, and other members of their family, reflecting their lives in India and England

Unquote.

Other sources include the file of private papers & photographs of Lt-Colonel J. W. Watson - including a portrait of the officer - held at the Imperial War Museum (ref catalogue number 9104-06, as well as the collection / papers of the Hospital Ship 'Loyalty' held in the Imperial War Museum collections, file reference HU 59814, and the on-line photograph album 'Hospital Ship 'Loyalty', 1914', this latter accessible at the Welcome Collection

Lieutenant-Colonel John William Watson, eldest son of John Whaley Watson (Colonel, Bombay Staff Corps) and Watson (nee) was a true son of the British Empire, born to British parents at Rajkot, Gujerat, India, on, 8 November 1874. After being schooled at Charterhouse, John completed his higher education at the Bristol & St, Georges Medical Colleges, graduating M.R.C.S. 1897, and L.R.C.P. London 1897. He was commissioned into the Indian Medical Service on 27 July 1898. Being appointed Captain, 27 July 1901. M.R.C.P. London 1908. Appointed Major on 28 January 1910. Employed as an Agency Surgeon in civil employment by the Indian Government from October 1903, with the outbreak of the Great War he reverted to military service and was appointed to the Hospital Ship Loyalty - formerly the Royal Mail Ship (and ocean liner) Empress of India. On 19 January 1915, with her new name and new role she was - with funding provided by the Maharajah of Gwalior (Scindia) - converted into an Indian Army Hospital Ship, equipped with operating rooms, over 500 beds and during the course of her war service carried more than 15,000 patients from the Indian Army. John Watson served his entire Great War service attached to the 'Loyalty' - a remarkable history of continuous service in one posting. Watson was advanced Lieutenant-Colonel on 28 January 1918 and at the end of the war returned to civil employment as Agency Surgeon for Bundelkhand, and later as Chief Medical Officer for Rajputana and Ajmer-Merwara. Lieutenant-Colonel Watson retired from the Indian Medical Service on, 8 November 1929. On return to England, Lieutenant-Colonel and his family, took up residence at Ringwood, Hampshire, England. At the time of the compilation of the 1939 National Register for England and Wales, Lt-Colonel Watson. described as an I.M.S. Pensioner residing at, Little Hay, Burley, Ringwood, Hampshire, and also recorded as being an 'ARP First Aid Commandant in charge of Mobile Unit'.

A rare seen 1914-15 Star named to the Hospital Ship "Loyalty" - which famous 'Indian' ship funded by the Maharajah of Gwalior - a.k.a. 'Scindia' - and became the first steamship of the Scindia Steamship Navigation Company in Bombay India - India's most famous and prestigious shipping company, and still owned by 'Scindia'

The medals mounted in the court-style for display purposes

The medals sometime lacquered

Condition: GVF

Code: 23073