Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Six: Sergeant F. C. Watkins, Gloucestershire Regiment and Bristol City Police

1914-15 Star (16785 L. Sjt. F. C. Watkins. Glouc: R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (16785 Sjt. F. C. Watkins. Glouc. R.); Jubilee 1935; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, bronze; Bristol City Police Long Service Medal, clasp Twenty Two Years (Sgt. F. Watkins.) mounted as worn, very fine (6) £160-£200

M.I.D. London Gazette 14 December 1917.

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 12 July 1918.

Frederick Charles Watkins was born at Badminton, near Bristol, on 11 October 1884, and enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, at Bristol on 21 September 1900, aged 18 years 1 month. He served overseas in South Africa, May 1902 to January 1904, and afterwards in India until October 1908, when he returned to the U.K. and was placed on the Reserve. He joined the Bristol Constabulary on 24 February 1909. In March 1915 he volunteered for service in the Army and enlisted into the 12th (Bristol’s Own) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, and went to France on 21 November 1915. He survived the war unscathed and returned to duty with the Bristol Constabulary in January 1919, being promoted to Sergeant in July 1924. He was awarded the ‘Good Service’ medal for 17 years service in May 1927, and the bar for 22 years service in March 1931. Sergeant Watkins received the 1935 Jubilee medal and retired on Pension shortly afterwards on 31 July. He died in Bristol on 14 March 1955.