Sir John Watson

A pistol fired at his chest but he fought through the clash.

John Watson was born in 1829 and entered the Bombay Army in 1848, beginning a military career that would span the campaigns and political appointments of British India. Still a young officer, he served in the Punjab campaign of 1848-49, including the operations commemorated by the Mooltan and Goojerat clasps to his campaign medal.

By 1857 he was a lieutenant in the 1st Punjab Irregular Cavalry. During the fighting around Lucknow on 14 November, his squadron and another commanded by Dighton Probyn encountered rebel cavalry. An opposing Indian cavalry officer rode forward with several men. Watson engaged him directly, placing himself in immediate danger at the front of the encounter.

The officer fired a pistol at Watson's chest from roughly a yard away. The shot caused no injury. Watson struck with his sword and unhorsed his opponent, who continued fighting with a tulwar as other horsemen joined the struggle. Watson received blows to his head, arm and leg; another cut disabled an arm temporarily, and a bullet passed through his coat. His own men came into the clash and drove the opposing party away.

Watson's Victoria Cross citation recounts this close combat and the wounds he sustained, drawing on Hope Grant's despatch of 10 January 1858. The award was announced on 18 June 1858, and Queen Victoria presented it at Buckingham Palace on 8 June 1859 (citation and medal-group record: https://www.victoriacross.org.uk/bbwatsoj.htm).

Watson's subsequent service extended beyond the Indian rebellion. He took part in frontier operations, commanded the Central India Horse, and later led the cavalry contingent sent to Malta in 1878. During the Afghan War he commanded the Punjab Chiefs' Contingent. His surviving medal group includes the Indian Mutiny, India General Service and Afghanistan medals as well as his earlier Punjab medal.

He also held political appointments, serving at Gwalior and as agent at Baroda, where military experience and relations with Indian rulers overlapped. He became a general in 1891 and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Bath in 1902. An honorary colonelcy of the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers followed in 1904.

Watson outlived the First World War. He died at Finchampstead, Berkshire, on 23 January 1919 and was buried at St James's Church. His medal group was later acquired for the Ashcroft collection, preserving tangible evidence of a long career and one exceptionally violent cavalry encounter.