Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Colclough WatsonVC (11 April 1867 – 15 June 1917) 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.
On 16 September 1897, at the village of Bilot, in the Mamund Valley, he collected a few men of the Buffs (East Kent Regiment) and of No. 4 Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners, and led them into the dark and burning village to dislodge some of the enemy who were inflicting loss on our troops. After being wounded and driven back, he made a second attempt to clear the village, and only desisted after a second repulse and being again hit and severely wounded.[6]
Gaining promotion to captain in 1899[7] and major in 1906,[8] Watson spent a number of years in the Military Works Service in India.[9]
Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1915,[10] he became a Divisional Engineer Commander in April that year.[11] He died in London on 15 June 1917, aged 50, of illness contracted while serving in Mesopotamia during World War I,[9] and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium. His wife Edith was awarded the Royal Red Cross.[12]
His medals sold at auction in December 2014 for £312,000.[2] They was purchased by Lord Ashcroft, a collector of Victoria Crosses, and are displayed at the Imperial War Museum.
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