WWI M.M. GROUP OF 3 MEDALS & SILVER WOUND BADGE TO 1/CL.A.M. H. WATSON, NO.10 SQN. R.F.C.

Military Medal Gazetted 19 Nov 1917:

"(10 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps) For coolness and skill, most notably on the following occasions:- on 6 Sep 1917 as Observer, he attacked a hostile balloon at Fourness, which collapsed and fell to the ground. On 17 Aug 1917, his Pilot having descended to a low altitude, he silenced a hostile Anti-Aircraft Battery by machine gun fire. On 9 Aug 1917, with Captain R.H.C. Atkinson, he engaged two hostile machines east of the Bois de Biez, forcing one of them down and driving off the other."

The Major Commanding No.10 Squadron detailed the action:

"Whilst on Artillery Patrol between 8.00am and 09.50am this morning, Capt. Atkinson observed a sudden heavy barrage fire directed against our trenches at C.17. He anticipated to be a raid by the enemy, dived down, circled around the barrage at a height of 600 feet and engaged with his Vickers gun the whole of the trench systemfrom whence he expected the raiding party, his Observer firing with his gun at the same time. Capt. Atkinson's gun jammed after about 100 rounds had been fired, and when A.M. Watson had expended all his drums, Captain Atkinson removed the remaining loaded belt from the Vickers and passed it to A.M. Watson who removed the ammunition from the belt and reloaded it into his Lewis drums. They then returned and kept up bursts at intervals into the enemy trenches from a very low altitude. They located three machine guns accurately which were firing at them, their machine being hit in ten places. The Squadron had been thanked by the General Staff of the 57th Division for the help which they considered very valuable. The Very's lights fired were intended as an S.O.S. call to the infantry, and there was no directing of Artillery fire by the Very's lights."

On the ground, XI Corps recorded the following:

"The enemy put down a heavy barrage on the left portion of the Armentieres sub-sector of the XI Corps front. This barrage formed a complete box around a portion of our front line system. At the time this occurred an artillery patrol aeroplane manned by Capt. R.N.G. Atkinson and A.M. Watson was flying overhead. The plane dived to 1200 - 800 feet and opened fire on machine guns in strong points in the enemy's line. All the Lewis Gun ammunition was thus expended and nearly all the Vickers as well, but the Vickers gun jammed when there was still half a belt unfired. The ammunition was unloaded by the Observer from the Vickers belt and loaded into the Lewis Gun drums. The aeroplane then fired into the enemy's trenches support and second line. During these manouvres the pilot fired five Very lights as dummy signals to mislead the enemy. The Pilot of the aeroplane showed great initiative and seized a favourable opportunity of disconcerting the enemy's intentions by a surprise attack besides subjecting him to casualties. This action by Capt. Atkinson prevented the enemy from carrying out a raid against our line."

Harry Watson was born in Thornton, Lancashire and joined the Army Service Corps as a Driver with the regimental number of T3/02762, entering France on 16 Sep 1915 and further entitled to a 1914-15 Star which is not present. Watson transferred to the Royal Flying Corps on 9 Feb 1917 as A.M.2, qualifying as an Aerial Gunner on 20 May 1917. Flying with 10 Squadron, Watson was Wounded In Action on 15 July 1917, suffering a wound to the ankle. After recovery and the award of his Military Medal, Watson was promoted to A.M.1 on 1 Sep 1917 and lastly discharged medically unfit for further service on 3 Sep 1918 and issued the Silver War Badge numbered '1171'.