Jump to content

Daril Watson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Daril Watson
Lieutenant General Sir Daril Watson in 1946
Born(1888-10-17)17 October 1888
Edmonton, London, England
Died1 July 1967(1967-07-01) (aged 78)
Hadlow Down, Uckfield, East Sussex, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1914–1947
RankGeneral
Service number9758
UnitRoyal Fusiliers
Highland Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
CommandsWestern Command (1944–46)
2nd Infantry Division (1940–41)
Senior Officers' School, Belgaum (1937–39)
1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (1934–37)
Battles / warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches
Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

General Sir Daril Gerard Watson, GCB, CBE, MC (17 October 1888 − 1 July 1967) was a senior British Army officer who saw service during both the First and Second World Wars.

Military career

[edit]

Born on 17 October 1888, Daril Watson was educated at Mercers' School and, upon the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, enlisted into the British Army, joining the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[1][2] He was commissioned into the Highland Light Infantry the following year, serving with the regiment's 12th Battalion, and was awarded the Military Cross in 1917, the same year of his marriage.[2][1]

After attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1924 to 1925, Watson transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (DCLI) in 1928, becoming commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, DCLI in 1934.[2] In 1937 he was appointed commandant of the Senior Officers' School, Belgaum, in India.[2][1]

Watson saw service in the Second World War, initially as a brigadier on the General Staff at Eastern Command and then moving on to the General Staff of III Corps.[2][1] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 2nd Infantry Division in India in 1940 and Director of Staff Duties at the War Office in 1941.[2] In 1942 he was appointed Assistant Chief of the Imperial General Staff and then Deputy Adjutant General.[2] In 1944 he moved on to be General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Western Command.[2][1]

Promoted to general on 17 August 1946,[3] Watson became Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1946 and retired in 1947.[2][1]

During retirement Watson became a member of the board of the British Transport Commission.[4][1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Smart 2005, p. 323.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ^ "No. 37701". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 June 1946. p. 4295.
  4. ^ Socialised Industries (Boards) Hansard, 8 December 1949

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Senior Officers' School, Belgaum
1937–1939
Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC 2nd Infantry Division
1940–1941
Succeeded by
Preceded by Assistant Chief of the Imperial General Staff
July–December 1942
Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC-in-C Western Command
1944–1946
Succeeded by
Preceded by Quartermaster-General to the Forces
1946–1947
Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by Colonel of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
1947–1953
Succeeded by