A Great War ‘Mesopotamia’ D.S.O. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel A. Watson, Royal Army Medical Corps, who was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and died at Tembura, Southern Sudan, during the Aliab Dinka campaign on 18 January 1920

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; 1914 Star, with later slide clasp (Lieut: A. Watson. R.A.M.C.); British War Medal 1914-20 (Lt. Col. S. [sic] Watson.); Victory Medal 1914-19, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. A. Watson.); Khedive’s Sudan 1910-22, 2nd issue, 1 clasp, Aliab Dinka, unnamed as issued, the clasp incorrectly affixed to the reverse side of the medal, good very fine and better (5) £1,800-£2,200

Approximately 37 clasps for Aliab Dinka awarded to British officers.

D.S.O. London Gazette 17 March 1917; citation published 26 April 1917:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He went forward under very heavy fire, before his own unit was ordered to advance, and commenced to dress the wounded of another battalion. He worked untiringly under fire both day and night, never resting until all the wounded had been brought in.’

M.I.D. London Gazettes 15 August 1917 and 27 August 1918 (both Mesopotamia)

Allan Watson was born on 7 March 1887, the son of the Reverend W. Watson, of Kiltearn, Ross-shire, and was commissioned Lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical Corps on 30 January 1914. He served with them during the Great War on the Western Front from 20 August 1914, and was promoted Captain on 30 March 1915. Proceeding to Mesopotamia, he was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He saw further service during the Aliab Dinka campaign in the southern Sudan, and died at Tembura, Sudan, on 18 January 1920. He is buried under a C.W.G.C. headstone in Khartoum War Cemetery, Sudan.

Note: The recipient’s Medal Index Card gives the rank for the British War and Victory Medals a Captain; presumably the medals were either incorrectly named or incorrectly despatches.