Thomas Colclough Watson


Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Colclough Watson VC was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth, Lincolnshire.

Details

Watson was 30 years old, and a lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army, attached to the Bengal Engineers, British Indian Army during the First Mohmand Campaign in British India when, on the night of 16/17 September 1897 in the Mamund Valley, North-West India, Lieutenant Watson and James Morris Colquhoun Colvin collected a party of volunteers and led them into the dark and burning village of Bilot, to try to dislodge the enemy who were inflicting losses on British troops. After being wounded and driven back by very heavy fire at close quarters, Lieutenant Watson made a second attempt to clear the village and only gave up after a second repulse and being again severely wounded. An account mentioning him is given in Winston Churchill's "The Story of the Malakand Field Campaign".
He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel dying in London of illness contracted whilst serving in Mesopotamia during World War I. He was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. His wife Edith was awarded the Royal Red Cross.
His medal sold at auction in December 2014 for £312,000. It was purchased by Lord Ashcroft, a collector of Victoria Crosses, and will be displayed at the Imperial War Museum.