Another portriat from The Tiger Kills. Captain Jack Watts DSO MC, Essex Regiment. I cannot find him anywhere , not on The National Archives ~ Recommendations for Awards search nor the London Gazette . Anyone help?
cheers D. Why didn't I think of that? I thought it may have been Waits.. I'll look those up tomorrow.
Obit. Obituary: Maj. Jack Watt, DSO, MC Major Jack Watt, DSO, MC, who has died aged 77, won an immediate DSO (three weeks after winning an MC), when serving with the 1st-4th Essex Regiment in April 1943 in Tunisia. During the advance towards Enfidaville, Watt, then a captain and company commander, was ordered to capture the Djebel Blida feature, where resistance was found to be much stronger and more determined than had been expected. His DSO citation recorded that "under his inspiring leadership the company had to fight its way forward, overcoming superior enemy numbers." At one point, Watt went forward alone to silence a machine gun post. Getting within 25 yards of it, and without being seen, he threw two grenades which failed to explode. He was thereupon discovered by the enemy, who turned their full fire on him. Undaunted, he rushed the post armed only with a pistol, killing some of the crew and forcing the others, some 14 of them, to surrender. Later that night Watt was involved in further close fighting with the enemy. The success of the operation was attributed entirely to Watt's personal bravery, initiative, determination and leader-ship. Watt's MC had been awarded during the advance from Hallouf to Matmata and to Poujane when he "showed exceptional skill in deploying his command and proved himself a gallant, bold and resourceful leader". Jack Watt was born on Sept 15 1919 at Kilburn, but grew up in Woodford. His father died before he was two, and at the age of 10 he competed successfully for a place at Christ's Hospital. He was never to forget the many benefits he received from his school, maintaining a lifelong interest, becoming a Donation Governor in 1977, and soon after a member of the Council of Almoners, the school's governing body. On leaving school Watt joined the Imperial Continental Gas Association. He returned to the company on being demobilised after the war, eventually becoming managing director from 1968 to 1979, and retiring as a director in 1987. His firm's European interests enabled Watt to become closely involved with Belgium. He forged many links with that country, and was awarded two Belgian civil decorations - Chevalier de L'Ordre de la Couronne and Commandeur de L'Ordre de Leopold II. Watt was president of the Old Blues Rugby Football Club and of the Buckhurst Cricket Club, and a director of the Epping Forest Centenary Trust from 1978 to 1983. He was vice-president of the 4th Battalion, Essex Regiment, Old Comrades' Association. He married, in 1953, and is survived by his widow and their three children.
This is from the Fourth Indian Division history, page 236 (I must now admit this & the above quote from The Tiger Kills were the next paragraphs after the section on Lt Hailes patrol I posted in the Jackson DCM thread, do I get a prize for most unobservant member?)
Owen, Let me know if you want me to type em up: The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Search Results=*
W/S Lieutenant T/ Captain. Previous awards Military Cross. Awarded Immediate DSO. This officer displayed most conspicuous bravery, leadership and devotion to duty during the attack by 5 Ind Inf Bde on the Debel Garoi posistion (area Enfidaville), on the night of 19/20 April 1943. The role given this officers company was the securing of the Djebel Blida feature which dominated the right flank of the main attack, and which secured a preliminary footing to the hills. Resistance was much heavier and determined than anticipated, and tactical features proved almost in accessible. In face of this determined resistance, the company under Captain Watt's inspiring leadership fought it's way forward through the hills, overcoming superior enemy numbers, and securing vital ground. On three seperate occassions Captain Watt personally led a platoon to the capture of enemy posts, and his bold and courageous example fired his whole company. On one occassion he went forward alone to silence a machine gun post. Getting within 25 yards of it unseen, he threw two grenades which failed to explode, and was thereupon discovered by the enemy who turned their full fire on him. Without hesitation he rushed the post armed only with a pistol, killing some of the crew and forcing the remainder, some fourteen in number, to surrender. Always with the leading platoon, later in the night he was involved in close fighting with the enemy, and again displayed most conspicuous gallantry and determination, finally personally superintending the evacuation of his wounded under close and intense fire and grenades. The fact that his company secured its objective, so ensuring the success of the remainder of the operation, was due entirely to the high personal bravery , initiative, determination, and leadership of Captain Watt. On the subsequent days and nights, when his company was employed on porterage duties Captain Watt continued to show the same outstanding qualities of devotion, and courage, in conditions which would have seen normally beyond the limit of human endurance. Sadly three lines of text have been scrubbed out at the bottom. I wondered if it was a recommendation for a higher award but the award column of the citation clearly shows Immediate DSO so I suspect it maybe a mention of the battle in which he was awarded a MC and it has been edited for security reasons. LG 19.8.43
W/S Lieutenant T/ Captain. Awarded Immediate MC During the advance from Hallouf to Fata*ata [Some Text Missing] and Toujane 26-28 Mar [y?] 43 this officer showed conspicuous enterprise and leadership. His company was acting vanguard to the battalion and with himself in the leading bren-carrier he pushed on boldly taking every risk with mines. On gaining contact with the enemy he showed exceptional skill in deploying his command which brought him to close grips with the enemy rearguard, inflicting several casualties and forcing the rest to surrender without casualty to his own company. Again on the second night of the engagement when it was vital to get through to the final objective he reconnoitred ahead himself in a bantam car taking every risk of mines in the half moonlight. His personal resource led to a route being opened in the shortest possible time. Throughout the period of the present operations this officer has proved himself a gallant, bold, resourceful leader. LG 17.6.43
