Nick

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/24526419

I would suspect that it is a veterans group, but the individual decided to add a few extras.

My father was at a memorial service a few months ago and he met someone who had a Queens Silver Jubilee medal in his group. He was immediately suspicious as the guy had similar service to him and he queried with him how he had a silver jubilee medal as it was only issued to very few. This guy although serving, like my father would not have been in the running for receiving the medal. He became a bit embarrassed and started bluffing about how all those serving in 1977 were entitled to the medal, but as only a few were issued you could now officially retrospectively get one etc etc. This of course was all rubbish and although it is not quite as Walter Mittyish as wearing campaign medals you are not entitled to, shows the thinking behind why someone might do it.

I was lucky enough to attend a few years ago an evening with Gordon Corrigan who wrote Mud, Blood and Poppycock. He is quite a character and this comes across quite clearly in his writing. This book is a rather revisionist look at the Great War from a British Perspective.

Some interesting but not particularly ground breaking facts are covered so the real student of WWI will not be in for any great surprises. But the way he delivers it, you will either love of hate. I know many who will really appreciate the ethos of this book and a few academics who will berate it.

Continuing the current theme on the BBC website, another interesting snapshot of a European city pre outbreak of war. Historically it is refreshing to see an article which is pre WWI as so often Berlin's history is associated with the Weimar and Nazi era.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25635311

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25612369

Wearing a GMIC members pin is the way forward at shows, at least we can identify a fellow member and at least say hello !

Alex

That last set of photos is quite chilling as it humanises them. The most infamous and brutally murderous men of the 20th Century having an informal gathering.

I know there is SO much historically wrong with this series, but I still think its great entertainment. Anyone else been watching the second series ?

Alan

I will add this to Rick's device database as it deserves a mention.

I would be happy to format it for you within the articles section, you could do a separate article for each display item as you have done on the display. You could also post it as a PDF within this topic. I used to regularly go to the OMRS but haven't been for a few years now.

What is the text on the medal is it Gaelic?

Antonio do you have an English speaking version of this file ?

I have usually found copy Golden jubilees to be over defined especially the ermin collar of her robes which stand out and feel noticeable if you rub your finger over them.

I think the easiest thing to do here is to start a helmet database with pictures supported by a topic. I will set one up.

Another fascinating group. Is there much information, if any released on the service records of Palestine Police officers or is it still out of the public domain ?

Peter

Fantastic collection of Palestine Police Medals, what were his actions for the gallantry award and clasp?

The men's bodies were repatriated in the mid seventies and given a state Israeli military funeral and regarded as heroic freedom fighters. Britain lodged formal objection but this was unsurprisingly disregarded.

As is often the case in history, particularly British history, one sides murderers and terrorists are later regarded as freedom fighters and heros in the struggle for independence from the yoke of British Imperialism. Palenstine was a poisoned chalace for the British, a mandate given to administer a region which was and still is in conflict.

These are really a great and historically significant set of medals, one of the best Colonial groups I have seen. Thanks for showing them.

Also don't forget Massachusetts Institute of Technology Police. Police officer Sean Collier was also tragically murdered by them.

Bernard fascinating account thanks, looking forward to some more !

Best of the bunch:

http://www.london-medals.co.uk

I would suggest you find a copy of his obituary try The Times.

DNW Auction listing May 2011:

The rare and impressive C.M.G., C.V.O., C.B.E., Sudan D.S.O. group of twenty awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel James Kiero Watson, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, who was awarded the D.S.O. for services during the reconquest of Dongola: a close friend of Lord Kitchener, to whom he was A.D.C. in the Sudan and in South Africa, he commanded an advance at Gallipoli in 1915 before retiring as Military Attaché in Cairo

The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s breast badge converted for neck wear, silver-gilt and enamels; The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse officially numbered ‘C530’; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1st type neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamels, chips to both green enamel wreaths; India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1889-92 (Lieut. J. K. Watson, 4th Bn. K. Rl. Rif. Corps); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (Cap: J. K. Watson, D.S.O., E.A.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Johannesburg (Major J. K. Watson, K.R.R.C.); 1914 Star, with clasp (Major J. K. Watson, C.V.O., C.M.G., D.S.O. K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Lt. Col. J. K. Watson); Coronation 1911; Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class breast badge, silver, gold and enamel; Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt and enamels; Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 7 clasps, Firket, Hafir, Sudan 1897, The Atbara, Khartoum, Sudan 1899, Gedid (Capt: J. K. Watson, K.R. Rifles) these last eleven on an old Hunt & Roskell court mounting, some ribbons distressed through age; Order of the Nile, 2nd Class set of insignia by Lattes, comprising neck badge and breast star, silver, silver-gilt and enamels; Order of Osmanieh, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels, enamel damaged and lacking one ballpoint; Order of Leopold II, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Order of the Crown of Roumania, 3rd Class neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Order of the Sword of Sweden, Knight’s breast badge, with swords, gold and enamels, obverse centre crudely repaired, unless otherwise described, generally good very fine (20) £7000-8000

Footnote

D.S.O. London Gazette 17 November 1896: Reconquest of Dongola.

C.M.G. London Gazette 27 September 1901: War in South Africa.

M.V.O. London Gazette 16 June 1905: On the occasion of the marriage of H.R.H. Princess Margaret of Connaught and H.R.H. Prince Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and Norway.

C.V.O. London Gazette 25 June 1912: Aide de Camp to the Khedive of Egypt.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1919: British Military attaché in Egypt.

M.I.D. London Gazette 3 November 1896 (Dongola); 24 May 1898 (The Atbara); 30 September 1898 (Omdurman); 30 January 1900 (Defeat of the Khalifa); 16 April 1901 (South Africa); 22 June 1915 (D.A.A.G.); 28 January 1916 (Gallipoli); 12 January 1918 (Military attaché at Cairo).

Order of the Medjidie, 4th Class London Gazette 7 October 1898.

Order of Osmanieh, 4th Class London Gazette 3 August 1900 (Pursuit and defeat of the Khalifa).

Order of Osmanieh, 3rd Class London Gazette 2 August 1907.

Order of the Nile, 2nd Class London Gazette 21 September 1923.

James Kiero Watson was born on 19 June 1865, son of Major General James Watson, late 60th Rifles, and Mrs James Watson. He was educated at Clifton College and R.M.C. Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the King's Royal Rifle Corps on 25 April 1885. In 1891 and 1892 he served in Burma, taking part in the operations in the Chin Hills. He was attached to the Egyptian Army in 1894 and posted to the Xth Sudanese Regiment. He was the first Englishmen to meet Slatin Pasha after his escape from captivity at Omdurman. In 1895 he became A.D.C. to Lord Kitchener, a post he held until 1905, and held a close relationship with the Earl until his death in 1916. He served in the Expedition to Dongola in 1896 as A.D.C. to the Sirdar, being present at the operations at Firket on 7 June and Hafir on 19 September. He was mentioned in despatches, received the Egyptian medal with clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order ‘James Kiero Watson, Captain, King's Royal Rifle Corps. In recognition of services during the recent operations in the Sudan’.

He served in the Nile Expedition, 1897, was awarded the 4th Class Medjidie, and received a clasp to the Egyptian Medal. He was again A.D.C. to the G.O.C. in the Nile Expedition of 1898, and was present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum, and was given the Brevet of Major 16 November 1898. After Omdurman he was appointed to the coveted post of Military Secretary in Cairo, trying to restore order to an office disrupted by three years of warfare. However, he was soon back in action, serving with the White Nile Expedition of 1899, taking part in the operations which resulted in the final defeat of the Khalifa at Gedid (Um Debaykarat), as D.A.A.G., Flying Column. He received the 4th Class Osmanieh and two clasps to the Egyptian Medal.

Watson served in the South African War as A.D.C. to Lord Kitchener, 1899-1901, and was present at the Relief of Kimberley. Also in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, being present at Cronje’s surrender at Paardeburg (17 to 26 February). Operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. Operations in the Transvaal, east and west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900. Operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900. Operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, December 1900 to April 1901. Operations in Orange River Colony 30 November to December 1900. He was present at the capture of Pretoria on 4 June 1900 and was created a C.M.G.

In 1901 Captain Watson returned to Egypt as A.A.G. to become Military Secretary once again, but was appointed A.D.C. at Headquarters by General Wingate, a post he held until 1905. He was promoted Major in October 1902. He accepted the Khedive’s invitation to become his A.D.C., and resigned his commission on 3 May 1905 to become an officer in the Egyptian Civil Service. It was a difficult position to hold in the Khedival Court but Watson soon earned the complete trust of the Khedive. He was created a C.V.O. in 1912 for his services. The Khedive chose to remain in Europe during the Great War, thus releasing Watson to be recalled and join the British forces in France as D.A.A.G., 1914-15, as Railway Transport Officer. He was next Commandant, Advanced Base, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, in 1915, until he fell sick and was hospitalised.

Watson returned to Cairo where he became British Military attache from 1916 to 1920. He was awarded the Legion of Honour (France), Order of the Sword (Sweden), Order of Leopold (Belgium), Order of the Crown (Romania) and created a CBE in 1919. Having time on his hands in 1920, he returned to the Sudan, before finally retiring in 1922. He was appointed Equerry to the Duke of Connaught in 1939. Lieutenant-Colonel Watson died on I3 January 1942.

Sold with a good amount of additional research including a copy of Military Operations in Burma, 1890-1892: Letters from Lieutenant J. K. Watson, K.R.R.C., 72pp, published by the Department of Asian Studies, Cornell University, 1967. All of Watson’s diaries, correspondence and papers covering the period 1888-1933 are held in the National Army Museum, London (ref. 8412/4-220).

Marco

Perhaps you would like to give us some details of your grandfather, any photos or award documents perhaps ?

Interesting article. But quite frankly there are many examples in both world wars where men should have received some recognition for their acts of bravery and never did for various reasons.

Of course it easy to look at things from a different perspective in modern times and I have no doubt the fact he was black would have made some difference, as would have been the case if he didn't come from the right school or right background. But we should not assume that the colour of his skin was the only reason. I have read of acts which were beyond the pale in terms of courage which never were considered for the highest awards because of criteria not being met.

What it does show is that in even in another age, steeped in Colonialism and prejudice, where a black officer would have been an unheard of thing. When men are thrown together in the most difficult of circumstances, colour of skin and background, goes bye the bye, especially when they are a good soldier and respected by their men.

It looks like a wild goose chase to me, a myth with no evidence to support the claim other than some fading memories....