63088 David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON, MC & Bar, 1 Irish Guards

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Gordon-Watson, D M L
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment: 1 Battalion The Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Palestine 1936-1939
Award: Military Cross
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 05 August 1938

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details

 

The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
Name Gordon-Watson, David Michael Lindsay
Rank: Captain
Service No: P/63088
Regiment: 1 Battalion Irish Guards
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
Award: Second Bar to Military Cross
Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 15 June 1944
Date 1944
Catalogue reference WO 373/6

24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 6 American Corps
P/63088 Captain, Temporary Major David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON, M.C., 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

On the night of 3rd February / 4th February Major GORDON-WATSON was acting Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS in the area of 8836 North of CARROCETO. The enemy put in a very heavy attack on this area and owing to the position on the right of the road being evacuated, the area of Battalion H.Q. became untenable.

This Officer ordered Battalion H.Q. to withdraw to another Company's area. There was really heavy fire of all sorts coming down, but with great coolness this Officer got his party up and led them personally through the enemy, between his position and the rear one. He had a very stiff fight to get back and personally shot some 12 Germans at short range with revolver and sub-machine gun. Unfortunately the rear of his party got surrounded and taken prisoner, but subsequently escaped. Major GORDON-WATSON and three others got through and arrived in their own lines with 12 prisoners in addition to those already killed or wounded.

This Officer showed the greatest personal bravery all through that night and undoubtedly his own effort in shooting his way back made others realise that it was possible. His coolness and brave example was remarked on by all and I strongly recommend that he be awarded a further bar to the Military Cross he already holds.

Signed C.A. Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

Granted an Immediate 2nd Bar to M.C.

 

Personal Number:
Rank: Lieutenant
Name: D M L GORDON-WATSON, MC
Unit: 1 Irish Guards
GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1939
TNA Reference: WO 100/503

 

Personal Number: 63088
Rank: Captain
Name: David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON
Unit: Irish Guards

London Gazette: 6 July 1934
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34067/page/4342/data.pdf
The undermentioned to be 2nd Lt. 6th July 1934.
David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON.

London Gazette : 30 August 1935
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34194/supplement/5532/data.pdf
I. G'ds.—
2nd Lt. David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON, from Gen. List, T.A., 1st Feb. 1934.

London Gazette : 3 February 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35442/supplement/546/data.pdf
I. G'ds
The undermentioned Lt to be Capt -
1st Feb 1942 —
D M L Gordon-Watson, M C (63088)

London Gazette : 31 January 1947
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37867/supplement/546/data.pdf
I. Gds.
Capt. (War Sub. Maj.) D . M . L . GORDON-WATSON, M.C. (63088) to be Maj., 1st Feb. 1947.

London Gazette : 30 November 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38468/supplement/6237/data.pdf
I. G'ds.
Maj. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. (63088), to be Lt.-Col., 14th June 1948.

London Gazette : 12 December 1961
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42534/supplement/8967/data.pdf
Col. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, O.B.E., M.C. (63088), late Ft. Gds., to be Brig., 24th Nov. 1961.

London Gazette : 22 March 1963
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42949/supplement/2601/data.pdf
Brig. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, O.B.E., M.C.
(63088), late Ft. Gds., retires on retired pay, 22nd Mar. 1963.

 

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name: GORDON-WATSON, David Michael Lindsay
DOB: 23rd Feb 1913
Place of Birth: Hampstead, London
Died: 20th May 2002, aged 89, Salisbury, Wiltshire.
Residence:
Profession:
Parents: Major-General Sir Charles Gordon-Watson and Alice Geraldine Mary Gordon-Watson nee Teevan; married 1942, Mere, Wiltshire.
Census:
Wife: Thalia A Gordon-Watson nee Gordon, married 1942, 4th Quarter
Photo:



SERVICE
Army/Personal Number: 63088
Rank: Major
Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 1st Battalion
As at 01/09/1939: Irish Guards


OFFICER
Commission:
London Gazette
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34067/page/4342/data.pdf
6th July 1934
The undermentioned to be 2nd Lt. 6th July 1934.
David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON.

Promotions:
30th August, 1935
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34194/supplement/5532/data.pdf
I. G'ds.—
2nd Lt. David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON, from Gen. List, T.A., 1st Feb. 1934.

3rd February, 1942
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35442/supplement/546/data.pdf
I. G'ds
The undermentioned Lt to be Capt -
1st Feb 1942 —
D M L Gordon-Watson, M C (63088)

30th November, 1948
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38468/supplement/6237/data.pdf
I. G'ds.
Maj. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. (63088), to
be Lt.-Col., 14th June 1948.

12th December 1961
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42534/supplement/8967/data.pdf
Col. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, O.B.E., M.C. (63088), late Ft. Gds., to be Brig., 24th Nov. 1961.

Retirement:
22nd March 1963
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/42949/supplement/2601/data.pdf
Brig. D. M. L. GORDON-WATSON, O.B.E., M.C.
(63088), late Ft. Gds., retires on retired pay, 22nd Mar. 1963.


Field Returns:
63088 Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 3 April 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 10 April 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 17 April 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 24 April 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 8 May 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 15 May 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 22 May 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 29 May 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 5 June 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 12 June 1943
T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 19 June 1943
63088 T/Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L. 1Bn North Africa Field Return W/E 26 June 1943

Orbats: Orbats: Irish Guards
1st Battalion Irish Guards, April, 1940 - On Embarkation for Norway
Captain D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. - Intelligence Officer

1st Battalion Irish Guards, April, 1940 - After Chrobry sinking
Captain D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. - Acting Commanding Officer

1st Battalion Irish Guards, May, 1940 - Reorganisation
Captain D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. - Adjutant

1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, June, 1940 - U.K.
Major D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON - Second-in-Command

1st Battalion Irish Guards, 28th February, 1943 - North Africa
Major D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. - Second-in-Command

1st Battalion Irish Guards, 13th January, 1943 - Operation Shingle
Major D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON, M.C. - Second-in-Command

Casualty Type:


Army Casualty List (WO 417):
The Times Casualty List: published


MEDALS

Gallantry Award/Honour: Military Cross
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Palestine, 1936-1939
London Gazette: 28th October, 1938 https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34565/page/6689/data.pdf
TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Gordon-Watson, D M L Rank: Lieutenant Regiment:... | The National Archives
Citation:
Recommendation:

Gallantry Award/Honour: Bar to Military Cross
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Norway
London Gazette: 27th September, 1940https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34955/supplement/5765/data.pdf
TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Gordon-Watson, David Michael Rank: Lieutenant ... | The National Archives
Citation:
Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) GORDON-WATSON David Michael Lindsay, 1st Battalion Irish Guards
At 0015 hrs on the 15th May 1940, H.M.T. "CHROBRY" was bombed, set on fire and subsequently abandoned. The bomb, or bombs, dropped in the cabins occupied by the senior officers of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, [six officers including the Commanding Officer and 4 Other Ranks being killed].
Capt. Gordon-Watson was the senior unwounded surviving officer of the Battalion and the safe transfer of survivors and wounded to destroyers was due to a considerable extent to the cool manner in which he organised the lowering and filling of boats, [most of the Polish crew having abandoned ship.] Capt. Gordon-Watson, with extreme disregard for his own safety, assisted in the extrication of Major Gilbert Denham (GILBART-DENHAM) who was badly wounded in a wrecked and blazing cabin.

Signed CJ Auchinleck, Lt-Gen., Commander, North Western Expeditionary Force.
Immediate Award Bar to M.C.

Recommendation:


Gallantry Award/Honour: 2nd Bar to Military Cross
The Times: 16th Jun 1944 - Bar to M.C. Major Gordon-Watson D. M. L.
Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy

London Gazette: 15th June, 1944
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36563/supplement/2852/data.pdf
15 JUNE 1944
War Office, 15th June, 1944
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy —
Second Bar to the Military Cross.
Captain (temporary Major) David Michael Lindsay Gordon-Watson, MC (63088), Irish Guards (Cranbourne).

TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Gordon-Watson, David Michael Lindsay Rank: Captain ... | The National Archives

Citation:
"24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 6 American Corps
P/63088 Captain, Temporary Major David Michael Lindsay GORDON-WATSON, M.C., 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

On the night of 3rd February / 4th February Major GORDON-WATSON was acting Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS in the area of 8836 North of CARROCETO. The enemy put in a very heavy attack on this area and owing to the position on the right of the road being evacuated, the area of Battalion H.Q. became untenable.

This Officer ordered Battalion H.Q. to withdraw to another Company's area. There was really heavy fire of all sorts coming down, but with great coolness this Officer got his party up and led them personally through the enemy, between his position and the rear one. He had a very stiff fight to get back and personally shot some 12 Germans at short range with revolver and sub-machine gun. Unfortunately the rear of his party got surrounded and taken prisoner, but subsequently escaped. Major GORDON-WATSON and three others got through and arrived in their own lines with 12 prisoners in addition to those already killed or wounded.

This Officer showed the greatest personal bravery all through that night and undoubtedly his own effort in shooting his way back made others realise that it was possible. His coolness and brave example was remarked on by all and I strongly recommend that he be awarded a further bar to the Military Cross he already holds.

Signed C.A. Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

Granted an Immediate 2nd Bar to M.C."

Recommendation:


Campaign Medals:
Medal Roll Details:
WO 100/503 Lieutenant GORDON-WATSON MC D M L, 1st Bn. Irish Guards, Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1938
WO 100/526 Lieutenant-Colonel GORDON-WATSON OBE MC D M L, 1st Bn. Irish Guards Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948


REFERENCES
War Diaries: War Diary: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, September 1939 - July 1944
Archive Files: WO 100/503 WO 100/526
Publications: IG History - Pgs. 11, 26, 30, 31, 38, 42, 43, 47, 49, 56, 63, 66, 104, 113, 118, 151, 173, 174, 192, 197, 226, 228, 230, 237, 241, 270, 274, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 283, 284, 286, 287, 322, 344, 428, 430, 453, 466, 479, 489, 503, 538, 541

Accounts: A Soldier's Story, J.O.E. Vandeleur, pg 90:


Newspaper:
The Times, 30th May, 2002:
“Brigadier D. M. L. Gordon-Watson - Obituary
Brigadier D. M. L. Gordon-Watson, OBE, MC and 2 bars, was born on February 23, 1913. He died on May 20, 2002, aged 89.

Three-time winner of the Military Cross who served in Palestine and as military attache in Washington

Michael Gordon-Watson was both intellectually and physically vigorous. His ideas on operations, training and a host of topics, military and otherwise, appeared to spring from a limitless source. He won the Military Cross three times between 1938 and 1944, took part in three amphibious landings, commanded 1st and 2nd Battalions Irish Guards but perhaps most enjoyed discussing thoroughbred horses.

He won his first MC with 1st Irish Guards in Palestine during the Second Arab Rebellion in 1938. The British Army faced the thankless task of trying to keep some semblance of peace between Arabs and Jews, with both factions taking every opportunity to attack their would-be protectors. On August 18, 1938, he was sent to the aid of an officer with a small group of men who had been ambushed while passing through a village in Samaria. Most had been wounded and one of two RAF aircraft sent to the scene shot down. Gordon-Watson led his platoon in an attack on the terrorists and brought the survivors of the ambushed group to safety. In order to prevent the ammunition and bombs in the crashed aircraft falling into terrorist hands, he made a 400-yard dash to the machine, laid a short fuse from the petrol tank, lit it and returned to cover under fire as the wreck exploded behind him.

His first experience of an amphibious landing was in early 1940 during the British attempt to forestall the German occupation of Norway. 1st Irish Guards were an element of the force landed on the northern coast with the aim of ejecting the German force which had occupied Narvik. This was achieved by May 27 but the unleashing of the Blitzkrieg in the Low Countries and France led the Allies to abandon Norway. After sailing safely out of the Navik Fjord, the requisitioned Polish motor vessel Chobry being used to evacuate the Irish Guards was bombed and set ablaze in the Norwegian Sea.

The commanding officer was killed and other officers killed or seriously wounded leaving Gordon-Watson as the senior able-bodied officer - he was a captain and the battalion intelligence officer - to take charge. Disembarkation of the guardsmen, among whom there were relatively few casualties, into the motor vessel's escorting destroyers and a sloop was accomplished with flawless discipline, as testified by one of the destroyer captains. Gordon-Watson remained on board until the last man was safely away from the Chobry, although she was burning furiously amidships after the bombs had struck. He was awarded a bar to his MC for his courage during the evacuation.

He accompanied 1st Irish Guards as battalion second-in-command on Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of French North Africa in November 1942, and saw action in the battle for the Djebel Bou Aoukaz during the advance on Tunis with 24th Guards Brigade, in April 1943. His next and most formidable amphibious landing was at Anzio, with 24th Guards Brigade in 1st British Division under command of 6th American Corps. The Germans reacted swiftly to the orders of Field Marshal Kesselring and soon had the Allied landing force hemmed in to their bridgehead.

Gordon-Watson was temporarily in command of his battalion when the enemy attacked the Buon Riposo ridge on the salient towards Campoleone on the night of February 3-4,1944. The forward position of battalion headquarters became untenable, forcing him to withdraw. The Irish Guards were then isolated but fought their way back to the main brigade position. Gordon-Watson shot 12 of the enemy at short range with his sub-machinegun but he and his tactical headquarters eventually got through having taken several prisoners. He received a second bar to his MC.

1st Irish Guards suffered so heavily at Anzio that the survivors were absorbed into the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. Gordon-Watson went as second-in-command to the 2nd Battalion which had converted to tanks for the Normandy invasion with the Guards Armoured Division. He arrived in time for the battle of the Mortain Falaise pocket, the fighting through the Bocage and eventually the relief of Brussels. He then attended the wartime short course at the Staff College, Camberley, before going to Germany, first as Brigade Major 5th Guards Brigade then as commanding officer 2nd Battalion Irish Guards .

In August 1947 he returned to the re-formed 1st Irish Guards as commanding officer in Palestine, where a new crisis had developed. By then the British Mandate had less than a year to run while the increasingly bitter struggle between Arabs and Jews was reducing the country's administration to chaos. Even so, he was able to take a small group of his officers into the Negev desert in November 1947 to shoot gazelle and ibex. There was little opportunity for such relaxation, however, and he brought his battalion out through Haifa in June 1948. He was appointed OBE for his period in command.

He went to Washington as a military attache on promotion to colonel in 1952 before taking over Regimental Headquarters Irish Guards in London in 1952. He was Brigadier (General Staff) Headquarters British Army of the Rhine from 1959.

David Michael Lindsay Gordon-Watson was the only son of the eminent surgeon Sir Charles Gordon-Watson. He was educated at Downside and Christ Church, Oxford, where he read classics and from where he received a direct commission into the Irish Guards in 1934.

After leaving the Army in 1963, he farmed near Cranbourne, Dorset, and ran a small thoroughbred stud. His younger daughter Mary won a gold medal in the three-day team event on his horse Cornishman V at the Munich Olympics in 1972, an occasion which gave him and his family great satisfaction. He served on the Dorset County Council for some years and hunted regularly in Leicestershire until into his sixties.

He married Thalia Gordon in 1942. She survives him with their three sons and two daughters.”

IG Journal, 2002 -
Brigadier Gordon-Watson, O.B.E., M.C. served from 1934 to 1961; DOD 20 May 2002 aged 89

Websites:
Irish Guards: Roll of Honour - WWII Open Resource Group
Irish Guards: Gallantry Awards & Honours - WWII Open Resource Group
Irish Guards: Medal Roll Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1939 - WWII Open Resource Group
Irish Guards: Medal Roll Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948 - WWII Open Resource Group
GORDON-WATSON, DAVID MICHAEL LINDSAY, MC & 2 BAR, 1BN
1BN RECIPIENTS OF HONOURS & AWARDS FOR NORTH AFRICA & ITALY, 1944

 

Brigadier Michael Gordon-Watson

12:02AM BST 30 May 2002
Brigadier Michael Gordon-Watson, who has died aged 89, was an outstanding front-line commander, and won a Military Cross and two Bars while serving with the Irish Guards.

In January 1944 the Allies got ashore at Anzio almost unopposed, and their thrust up the Albano highway created a narrow salient extending from Carroceto to Campoleone before the bridgehead was sealed by the Germans.

On the night of February 3, a heavy artillery bombardment heralded a major German offensive aimed at eliminating the units holding the salient, and capturing the strategic Carroceto area which controlled the road and rail network leading north from Anzio.

Shortly before midnight, Major Gordon-Watson, the acting commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, was getting reports that the enemy was infiltrating their position on the left of the salient in considerable strength.

At first light, after a night of heavy but confused fighting, it was clear that the Germans were driving deep wedges into both sides of the salient, threatening the best part of the British 1st Division with encirclement.

With the company on his left flank overwhelmed - and receiving no support from the high ground to his right, which had been overrun - Gordon-Watson, at his battalion HQ, came under intensive shelling and machinegun fire. There was no sign of the reinforcements that he had been promised, and he decided that the only way out was for his HQ to try to fight its way back to the rear company.

At the head of a small group of men, Gordon-Watson plunged into a network of narrow, overgrown gullies and muddy ditches. As the leading section rounded a corner, they came across four Germans in a culvert. One of them levelled his Schmeisser sub-machinegun - but dropped it hastily at the sight of Gordon-Watson's revolver.

Fifteen yards further on there was a culvert with another five of the enemy. The Guards' Tommy guns cleared the way. A few moments later, two German officers walked straight into them; Gordon-Watson shot one and missed the other, who returned fire.

Gordon-Watson's party ran down the gully, shepherding their prisoners, then jumped over a bank and landed on 10 Germans in slit trenches. "It was a real mix-up," Gordon-Watson's servant said later. "I didn't know which way my hat was on."
The surviving Germans surrendered, and it was only then, when there was a moment's pause, that Gordon-Watson realised that his group had become separated from the rest of his HQ.

Gordon-Watson and three comrades got back to their own lines with 12 prisoners. It was for this action that he was awarded a second Bar to the Military Cross that he already held. It was discovered afterwards that the rear of his party had been surrounded and taken prisoner, but had subsequently escaped.

David Michael Lindsay Gordon-Watson was born in London on February 23 1913, the son of Sir Charles Gordon-Watson, a Harley Street surgeon. He was educated at Downside before going up to Christ Church, Oxford, where he read History. In 1934 he was commissioned into the Territorial Army before transferring to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards and being posted to Egypt.

In 1938, in operations against armed bands in Deir Bajjala, Palestine, Lieutenant Gordon-Watson led his two sections against a strong enemy position and saved what might have become a very difficult situation.

Later, in the same action, when a plane was shot down and had to be destroyed, he ran 400 yards to it in the failing light under heavy fire. After piling up the unexploded bombs around the plane, he poured petrol over it, laid a short trail and threw a match on it.

Illuminated by the glare from the blazing aircraft, he was again exposed to intense fire at close range. Bullets were seen to hit the rocks all round him, but he managed to get back to his company unscathed. He was awarded a Military Cross.

In April 1940 Gordon-Watson went to Norway with the 1st Battalion as part of the British Expeditionary Force. A month later, the battalion was ordered south to reinforce the fragile line that was attempting to hold up the German advance and embarked on the Chobry, a Polish motor ship.

At midnight on May 14 the Chobry was bombed by Heinkels; the cabins collapsed like a deck of cards, the lights went out, and the top decks amidships were set ablaze.

In the words of the Admiralty report: "The battalion had been under frequent bombing attack all day, cooped up with the ship at anchor. Some 300 men were collected on the forecastle with enemy planes overhead, the midship part of the vessel a raging furnace, 50 tons of ammunition in the hold and a rescuing destroyer alongside.

Not a man moved until the order was given. The calm courage they showed can hardly, if ever, have been surpassed." As the senior surviving officer, Captain Gordon-Watson took command of the battalion. He was awarded the first Bar to his Military Cross.

After the evacuation to England, Gordon-Watson had a number of home postings before embarking for North Africa in February 1943 as second-in-command of the lst Battalion.

Two months later it was part of the 24th Guards Brigade which took part in the bitterly-contested battle to capture the Bou Aoukaz mountain, and so secure the left flank for the Allied final assault on Tunis. The Germans mounted a series of savage counter-attacks, but the battalion held on despite suffering heavy losses.
In April 1944, after the withdrawal from the Anzio bridgehead, Gordon-Watson returned to England with the 1st Battalion before moving to France to join the 2nd Battalion, now equipped with tanks, as second-in-command. As a highly decorated veteran of several campaigns, he was warmly welcomed.
Gordon-Watson was a commander with strong opinions, enthusiasm and imagination to whom leadership seemed to come naturally. His resourcefulness in mitigating the privations of life at the front was a byword in the regiment.
Looking for a suitable place near L'Aigle to lodge the battalion, he and his advance party found some large fields near the main road with several large, dry barns. The farmer and his wife were hospitable, he reported afterwards, and had shared a frugal meal with him and his companions.

A brother officer, describing the same event, placed the emphasis rather differently. Gordon-Watson, he said, had forced his way into the farmhouse and insisted that the farmer had them to dinner. After getting "la patronne" to kill a duck, he had made her drink some tea (several hours old) out of a thermos and, after sinking a large Calvados, had kissed her with great exuberance.

Gordon-Watson fought with his battalion in their drive to the Seine and the Rhine, liberating Brussels on the way. In January 1945 he returned to England to attend Staff College, before being posted to BAOR as brigade major of the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade. He commanded the 2nd Battalion in BAOR in 1946, and the 1st Battalion in Haifa and Tripoli from 1947.

In 1951 he went to Washington as military attache before being appointed regimental lieutenant-colonel in command of his regiment the following year. Nine months in Korea was followed by postings to Nato Defence College, Shape and HQ BAOR.

Gordon-Watson was appointed Vice-President of the Regular Commissions Board in 1961 and retired the same year in the rank of brigadier.

An accomplished horseman and a good shot, he retired to Dorset where he enjoyed hunting, racing and shooting. For a number of years he served as a county councillor and as a JP. He was appointed OBE in 1949; he died on May 20.

Michael Gordon-Watson married, in 1942, Thalia Gordon, who survives him with three sons and two daughters.

 

HM King George VI and Major Gordon-Watson

 

1st Bn Irish Guards, Honours & Awards, Chelsea Barracks, 1944

Back Row: D/Sgt. M. Moran, MM, C.S.M. P. Mercer, MM,
L/Sgt D. Smith, Mentioned in Despatches,
Captain A.F.D. O'Neill (R.A.M.C.), Mentioned in Despatches,
Sgt R. Thorogood, Mentioned in Despatches, C.S.M. G. Stone, Mentioned in Despatches,
Sgt. A. Hughes, MM

Middle Row: R.S.M. F. Kenny, Mentioned in Despatches, L/Sgt R. Murphy, MM,
Guardsman J. Branthwaite, MM, Guardsman T. Barker, Mentioned in Despatches,
Sgt. M. O'Brien, MM, Sgt, C. Gundel, DCM, Sgt. R. McConnell, MM, L/Cpl A. Cross, MM,
L/Cpl H. Hayman, MM, L/Sgt C. Weir, MM, Rev. Fr. J.R. Brookes, Mentioned in Despatches

Front Row: Lieut. (QM) H.F. McKinney, MBE, Mentioned in Despatches,
Guardsman P. O'Shea, DCM, R.S.M. W. Rooney, MM, Major G.P.M. FitzGerald, MC,
Major H.L.S. Young, DSO, Captain & Adjutant D.J.L. FitzGerald, MC, L/Sgt J.P. Kenneally, VC, Major D.M.L. Gordon-Watson, MC, Guardsman R. Adamson, DCM, Captain C.D. Kennard, DSO, Captain O.S. Chesterton, MC, Guardsman J. Ryan, MM, Captain T.C. Keigwin, MC


Amongst those not in the photograph are Major D.M. Kennedy, MC, WO II D T Lynch DCM (POW) & Serjeant W. Montgomery, DCM (POW).

 

Back Row - L/Sgt. W. MONTGOMERY, L/Sgt. D. WATSON, L/Sgt. C. WYATT, L/Sgt. O. WILLIAMS, Sgt. P. MORIARTY, Sgt. G. WHELAN, Sgt. J. CARSON, Sgt. O. O'SULLIVAN, Sgt. R. McCONNELL, M.M., Sgt. M. McCARTHY, Sgt. F. TABERN, Sgt. M. O'BRIEN, M.M., Sgt. C. GUNDEL, D.C.M., Sgt. M. McCLEAN, L/Sgt. H. CLAPHAM

Fourth Row - Sgt. P. HATCHE, L/Sgt. G. SPICER, L/Sgt. G. BANKS, L/Sgt. L. BRADLEY, L/Sgt. H. SCOTT, L/Sgt. F. DOLAN, L/Sgt. J. HIRST, L/Sgt. J. DUNN, L/Sgt. R. DELBRIDGE, L/Sgt. T. TOPPING, L/Sgt. W. McKIBBEN, L/Sgt. J. BROOKS, L/Sgt. R. SWIFT, L/Sgt. C. McKEOWN, L/Sgt. V. POUNTNEY, L/Sgt. C. WEIR, M.M.

Third Row - L/Sgt. J. P. KENNEALLY V.C., Sgt. E. BARRETT, Sgt. F. McCARTEN, L/Sgt. G. HEBDEN, Sgt. J. BIGLEY, L/Sgt. J. PRYTHERICK, Sgt. F. EDWARDS, L/Sgt. F MANSFIELD, L/Sgt. R. DITCHFIELD, L/Sgt. E. DONNAN, Sgt. J. RYAN, L/Sgt. S. CARR, L/Sgt. P. McNALLY, L/Sgt. C. CHAFFER, L/Sgt. S. BALSHAW, L/Sgt. C. ENGLISHBY, L/Sgt. N. SEARLE

Second Row - Sgt. A. BARRETT (R.E.M.E.), Sgt. G. CURRY, Sgt. P. McCARTHY, Sgt. D. McALLISTER, Sgt. C. BENNETT, Sgt. W. CRAWFORD, Sgt. A. HUGHES M.M., Sgt. J. ALEXANDER, Sgt. R. THOROGOOD, Sgt. L. SARGANT, Sgt. J. KELLY, L/Sgt. J. COULTER, L/Sgt. R. MURPHY M.M., L/Sgt. J. DORAN, L/Sgt. T. BARROW, L/Sgt. D. SMITH, L/Sgt. F. MEARS

Front Row - L/Sgt. J. DELAHUNTY, Armr. S/Sgt. A. WORLEY (R.E.M.E.), C.Q.M.S. T. CRYMBLE, C.Q.M.S. J. MOORE, C.Q.M.S. S.W. BARRETT, C.S.M. P. MERCER M.M., C.S.M. J. STUART, C.S.M. W. PESTELL, R.S.M. W. ROONEY M.M., Capt. & Adjt. D.J.L. FITZGERALD M.C., R.S.M. F. KENNY, Major D.M.L. GORDON-WATSON M.C., R.S.M. J. McLOUGHLIN, R.Q.M.S. M. GREY, D/Sgt. M. MORAN M.M., C.S.M. G. STONE, C.S.M. E. WEIR, C.Q.M.S. J. SMYTH, C.Q.M.S. P. BOYLE, C.Q.M.S. W. WALLACE, C.Q.M.S. T. DOONAN


IRISH GUARDS PHOTOGRAPHS

 

IG Journal 1958

Orderly Room Staff - 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, Italy 1944.

 

IG Journal, 1966

 

Second quarter - Army lists > 1940-1946 - Quarterly Army Lists (Second Series), July 1940-December 1950 > 1940 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland

Army List, 1940 2nd Quarter

IRISH GUARDS

LIEUTENANTS
GORDON-WATSON D M L, MC, (Temporary Captain - 12/12/1939) - 01/02/1937

 

Liverpool Evening Express 5 April 1944

 

Irish Guards: Medal Rolls, General Service Medal, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948

Personal Number: 63088
Rank: Lieutenant-Colonel
Name: D M L GORDON-WATSON, MC
Unit: 1 Irish Guards
GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1945 - 1948
TNA Reference: WO 100/526
Notes: