Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Private

Unit:

No.10 Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion The Westminster Regiment (Motor), 5th Canadian Armoured Brigade, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Recommendation:
On 27 April 1945, "C" Company of the Westminster Regiment (Motor) was advancing in the vicinity of Woldendorp, Holland. No. 10 Platoon of this company was caught in a heavy concentration of artillery and mortar fire and unable to move because of cross fire from two cleverly concealed machine guns. Private Watkin volunteered to silence one of the machine guns. Disregarding the heavy shell and mortar fire, he worked his way forward over one hundred and fifty yards of completely exposed ground to within sixty yards of the enemy machine gun to a position from which he was able to use his PIAT. Quickly rushing the post after the crew had been stunned by the explosion of the PIAT bomb, Private Watkin killed the crew of three with his pistol. Using the enemy post to excellent advantage, Private Watkin followed up his success by pinning down the crew of the other machine gun and enabled the remainder of his platoon to re-organize themselves and advance to the objective
By his exemplary courage, coolness and resourcefulness, by his single-handed heroic action, Private Watkin undoubtedly saved his platoon from heavy casualties in a difficult situation, thus permitting it to quickly achieve its objective.

Supplement to the London Gazette, 11 October, 1945.