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420:, and with his sowars renewed his attack upon Lieutenant Watson, who bravely defended himself until his own men joined in the melee, and utterly routed the party. In this rencontre Lieutenant Watson received a blow on the head from a tulwar, another on the left arm, which severed his chain gauntlet glove, a tulwar cut on his right arm, which fortunately only divided the sleeve of his jacket, but disabled the arm for some time; a bullet also passed through his coat, and he received a blow on his leg which lamed him for some days afterwards.
62:
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in command of them – a fine specimen of the
Hindustani Mussalman – and backed up by some half-dozen equally brave men, rode out to the front. Lieutenant Watson singled out this fine-looking fellow and attacked him. The Ressaldar presented his pistol at Lieut. Watson's breast at a yard's
416:
distance and fired, but most providentially without effect; the ball must have by accident previously fallen out. Lieutenant Watson ran the man through with his sword and dismounted him; but the native officer, nothing daunted, drew his
863:
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461:, 1877; Officiating Adjutant-General in Central India, 1871; commanded the Cavalry despatched from Bombay to Malta, 1878; and then commanded the Punjab chief's contingent of the
853:
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384:
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446:
445:. After this he returned to England briefly on convalescence leave before returning to India. In 1858, he raised the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry which later became the
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324:. His father was William George Watson. In 1848, at the age of 19, Watson travelled to London seeking to join the army of the
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527:. His grave lies in the churchyard of St James in the village. His VC is on display in the Lord Ashcroft Gallery at the
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17:
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818:
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276:, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to
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observed that Watson "was looked upon as one of the most promising officers of the
Frontier Force."
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from 1882 until 1886, for which he was subsequently knighted as a Knight
Commander of the
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to Her
Majesty Empress Victoria, 1870–71 and the Agent to the Governor-General at
340:. This offered little prospect of action, however, and Watson sought transfer to
488:(KCB) in 1886. He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the order (GCB) in the
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Lieut. Watson, on 14 Nov., with his own squadron, and that under
Captain, then
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585:. Vol. 24.1. Madras: Pillar & Co. pp. 459–460.
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Following this, Watson took part in further fighting around
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when the following deed took place on 14 November 1857 at
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British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
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Indian
Rebellion of 1857 recipients of the Victoria Cross
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list published on 26 June 1902, and was invested by King
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Watson also served in a number of other roles, including
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His first combat action came in
December 1848 during the
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British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Sikh War
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6th Duke of
Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)
292:, Watson received his Victoria Cross for actions at
715:. No. 36842. London. 9 August 1902. p. 6.
859:British military personnel of the Umbeyla Campaign
680:. No. 36804. London. 26 June 1902. p. 5.
469:(1879–80). In 1891 he was promoted to the rank of
433:Grave in the churchyard of St James, Finchampstead
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700:(Supplement). 26 July 1902. pp. 4189–4190.
411:, came upon a body of the rebel cavalry. The
363:. By the early 1850s, he was adjutant of the
844:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
519:Watson died on 23 January 1919, aged 89, at
268:(6 September 1829 – 23 January 1919) was an
27:British general and Victoria Cross recipient
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563:
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359:. Shortly afterwards he took part in the
839:British East India Company Army officers
829:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
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316:Watson was born on 6 September 1829 in
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734:. London: Headline Publishing Group.
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403:, for which he was awarded the VC:
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773:The Register of the Victoria Cross
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580:The Indian Biographical Dictionary
116:St James Churchyard, Finchampstead
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875:
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573:"Watson, General Sir John"
570:Rao, C. Hayavadana, ed. (1915).
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749:Roberts, Sir Frederick (1897).
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379:Watson was 28 years old, and a
300:. He later rose to the rank of
786:Location of grave and VC medal
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613:
509:13th Duke of Connaught Lancers
457:, 1871. He became Resident at
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1:
824:Military personnel from Essex
755:. London: Macmillan & Co.
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629:. 18 June 1858. p. 2960.
357:1st Bombay European Fusiliers
351:when Watson took part in the
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834:British Indian Army generals
449:. He later took part in the
7:
10:
880:
730:Ashcroft, Michael (2007).
676:"The Coronation Honours".
326:British East India Company
195:4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry
463:Kurram Valley Field Force
453:(1863) and commanded the
355:, while serving with the
336:he was initially sent to
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752:Forty-one Years in India
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490:1902 Coronation Honours
467:Second Anglo-Afghan War
218:Second Anglo-Afghan War
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375:Victoria Cross details
732:Victoria Cross Heroes
639:Ashcroft 2007, p. 67.
432:
425:Later military career
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349:Second Anglo-Sikh War
208:Second Anglo-Sikh War
173:Years of service
819:People from Chigwell
814:Burials in Berkshire
775:(This England, 1997)
769:(David Harvey, 1999)
767:Monuments to Courage
529:Imperial War Museum
455:Central India Horse
306:British Indian Army
164:British Indian Army
711:"Court Circular".
697:The London Gazette
626:The London Gazette
500:on 8 August 1902.
451:Umbeyla Expedition
435:
385:1st Punjab Cavalry
365:1st Punjab Cavalry
741:978-0-7553-1633-5
503:He was also made
498:Buckingham Palace
486:Order of the Bath
443:Relief of Lucknow
369:Frederick Roberts
288:serving with the
272:recipient of the
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97:(1919-01-23)
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809:1919 deaths
804:1829 births
789:(Berkshire)
692:"No. 27448"
621:"No. 22154"
391:during the
389:Bengal Army
330:Bengal Army
296:during the
290:Bengal Army
284:forces. An
154:Bengal Army
42:John Watson
798:Categories
724:References
531:, London.
494:Edward VII
381:lieutenant
312:Early life
122:Allegiance
75:1829-09-06
713:The Times
678:The Times
525:Berkshire
511:in 1904.
413:Ressaldar
106:Berkshire
439:Cawnpore
318:Chigwell
191:Commands
140:Service/
82:Chigwell
507:of the
471:general
465:in the
459:Gwalior
397:Lucknow
383:in the
334:officer
304:in the
302:general
294:Lucknow
286:officer
278:British
270:English
250:General
185:General
738:
582:
482:Baroda
418:tulwar
342:Bombay
338:Madras
332:as an
232:Awards
176:1848–?
142:branch
131:
112:Buried
535:Notes
515:Death
401:India
322:Essex
263:
261:,
86:Essex
50:
736:ISBN
280:and
181:Rank
92:Died
69:Born
523:in
496:at
265:GCB
52:GCB
37:Sir
800::
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656:^
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560:^
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399:,
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320:,
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258:VC
255:,
104:,
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48:VC
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77:)
73:(
20:)
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