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Watts, Douglas Joseph

Service number:
187244
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Watts attended the Rossell School (Fleetwood, Lancashire), and read Law at Cambridge prior to officer training at Sandhurst.

Promotions:
May 10th, 1941: 2nd Lieutenant
?: Lieutenant

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant
Unit:
27th Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps (Leicester) (27th Lancers, Royal Armoured Corps (Leicester))
Awarded on:
August 23rd, 1945
"During the early morning Lt. Watt's Armoured car Troop was advancing in front of 56 Division's left axis when he came to a small bridge backed by houses ? held by a considerable number of enemy. It was essential that the bridge should be seized intact. ? Watts ? rushed the bridge with his own troop in face of very heavy fire. ?within 45 minutes of his first arrival at the bridge he succeeded in seizing and consolidating his objective ? the operation was entirely successful ... He took 56 prisoners of war, inflicted many casualties and destroyed or captured a large amount of arms and equipment, including a complete Company HQ, a half track ammunition carrier, 15 carts loaded with heavy mortar ammunition, and a large quantity of horsed transport."

Awarded as an immediate MC.
Military Cross (MC)

Sources

  • - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35167 published on the 16 May 1941
    - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37235 published on the 21 August 1945
    - Woolley and Wallis

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