Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.O., O.B.E. group of seven awarded to Colonel C. S. M. C. Watson, Royal Engineers

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Lieut., R.E.); 1914-15 Star (Capt., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col.); Delhi Durbar 1911, silver, unnamed, mounted court style as worn, good very fine (7) £1600-2000

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 February 1917. ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with Military operations in the Field.’

O.B.E. London Gazette 3 June 1919. ‘For valuable services rendered in connection with Military operations in East Africa.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 30 June 1916 (Smuts, East Africa); 11 June 1920 (Van Deventer, East Africa).

Charles Scott Moncrief Chalmers Watson was born on 25 February 1881. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 2 May 1900. During the Second Boer War, he served in operations in Cape Colony and the Orange River Colony, December 1901; and operations in Transvaal, December 1901-May 1902. Promoted to Lieutenant in May 1903; Captain in May 1910; Major in November 1916; Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1918 and substantive Lieutenant-Colonel in September 1925. Attained the rank of Colonel whilst on Half Pay in September 1929. He retired from the Army in 1933. Awarded the Delhi Durbar Medal in 1911 having served with the Government of India Railway Department as Assistant Manager North Western Railway. During the Great War he served in German and Portuguese East Africa, Nyasaland and Northern Rhodesia, 17 October 1914-25 November 1918. He was Assistant Director of Railway Traffic East African Force, 1 March-July 1918, and Deputy Director of Railways, 20 July 1918-4 February 1919. For his wartime services he was twice mentioned in despatches and awarded the D.S.O. and O.B.E. With copied research and photographs.

For the recipient’s miniature medals, see lot 652.