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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 892

Commission Document for Captain Robert John Watson, 29th Regiment of Foot, dated 1 September 1865, folded, good very fine

Robert John Watson was born on 10 June 1839 in Glasgow, the son of James Clayhills Watson, a banker from Glasgow. He was commissioned Ensign, by purchase in the 29th Regiment on 21 December 1860 at the age of 21. Two further promotions by purchase occurred: Lieutenant on 13 February 1863 and Captain on 1 December 1865.

Watson served in Great Britain and Ireland up until 20 June 1865, whereupon he moved with his regiment to Malta. On 2 July 1867, he was posted to Canada until 19 December 1869. A photo exists in the Regimental Museum Archive of Watson dressed in heavy winter clothing, taken in Canada. He was married to Margaret C. Dewar on 25 March 1868 at Hamilton, Canada. Their marriage produced two children: Helen Roberta, born 19 January 1869, and a later infant born on 20 March 1870.

On 20 December 1869 the regiment moved to the West Indies, where they remained until 31 March 1870. Watson was promoted Brevet Major on 20 August 1878 and Major on 1 July 1881. He served with a wing of the regiment in the short punitive expedition into the Zhob Valley in September-November 1884, but the wing were disappointingly kept in reserve and did not take part in any actual military operations. Watson was promoted Lieutenant Colonel on 28 October 1884 and posted to the 2nd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment and succeeded to its command on 19 December 1886.

It would appear that his wife either died or they divorced, for on 23 April 1887 at the age of 48, Watson married his second wife, Rebecca Elizabeth Vesey-Walker, 36 years, the second daughter of William Francis Vesey-Walker and Charlotte Branthwayte Holt of Jersey, at St. Helier's Parish Church. They produced one daughter, Phylis Joan born 1887, and two sons, Vesey Clayhills, born 1889 and Thomas Hovenden, born 1892. In 1901, the family were living at 6 Howley Place, Paddington, London. At the time, Watson's daughter Helen, aged 32, from his previous marriage was still residing with them, together with 3 servants.

The younger son, Thomas, was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment from the Royal Military Academy on 4 September 1912. Thomas, a brilliant young officer with huge future potential, was to rise to the rank of acting Lieutenant Colonel with the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, being awarded the D.S.O. and M.C in WW1. He was killed in action whilst in command of the 1st Sherwood Forresters on 23 March 1918, at the age of 25. He was buried in the Roye New British Cemetery Plot III. A. 3., in France. The older son Vesey was a Captain in the 19th Battery, R.F.A., and was killed on 11th April, 1917 and is buried in the Bagdad (North gate) War Cemetery, Plot XIX. B. 11., in Iraq.

Watson was promoted Colonel on 27 August 1888 and finally retired from the service on 12 December that same year. Rebecca Watson died in Paddington, London between October and December 1920, aged 70.


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