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Wilkinson Sword VC winners Officer’s Sword belonging to General Sir John Watson

Wilkinson Sword VC winners Officer’s Sword belonging to General Sir John Watson

Wilkinson Sword VC winners Officer’s Sword belonging to General Sir John Watson. Victorian Infantry officer’s sword number 35643 regulation sword with steel guard with VR and crown and fisk skin grip. The blade with owner’s initials J C W Royal Engineers regimental badge and maker marked. It is complete with steel scabbard and is sold with a copy of the Wilkinson Sword register. Notes: Watson was 28 years old, and a lieutenant in the 1st Punjab Cavalry, Bengal Army during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 14 November 1857 at Lucknow, India, for which he was awarded the VC: Following this, Watson took part in further fighting around Cawnpore and then the Relief of Lucknow. After this he returned to England briefly on convalescence leave before returning to India. In 1858, he raised the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry which later became the 6th Duke of Connaught’s Own Lancers (Watson’s Horse). He later took part in the Umbeyla Expedition (1863) and commanded the Central India Horse, 1871. He became Resident at Gwalior, 1877; Officiating Adjutant-General in Central India, 1871; commanded the Cavalry despatched from Bombay to Malta, 1878; and then commanded the Punjab chief’s contingent of the Kurram Valley Field Force in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (1879–80). In 1891 he was promoted to the rank of general.

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