Five: Police Sergeant H. E. Watts, Metropolitan Police, late Rifle Brigade

Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4107 Pte., 2/R. Bde.); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Defence of Ladysmith, Belfast (4107 Pte., Rifle Brigade); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (4107 Pte., Rifle Brigade); Coronation 1911, Metropolitan Police (P.S.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 1 clasp, Khartoum (4107 Pte., 2/R. Bde.) together with Metropolitan Police struck silver shooting medal, obv. uniformed bust of George V with legend ‘George Prince of Wales, K.G.’, dated 1910 below the bust, rev. inscription ‘Challenge Cup presented by George, Prince of Wales, to the Metropolitan Police for their best miniature rifle shot’, hallmarked Birmingham 1909, straight bar suspension, named on the edge (H. Watts) contact marks, otherwise very fine and better, the last rare (6) £400-450

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of R.W. Gould, MBE.

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Horace Edmund Watts was born at Islington, London, on 18 December 1877. He joined the Rifle Brigade on 1 November 1895 and served with the 2nd Battalion in the Nile Expedition 1898, the occupation of Crete 1898, and in South Africa from October 1899, including the Defence of Ladysmith. He was discharged on 19 March 1903 and was a reservist until October 1907. He joined the Metropolitan Police on 15 June 1903 and was posted to “M” Division. Promoted to Sergeant in March 1910, he was then transferred to “K” Division until promoted to Station Sergeant in March 1919 and transferred to “N” Division. He resigned on pension on 18 June 1928.

A Challenge Cup was presented by the Prince of Wales in May 1910 for the best miniature rifle shot, the winner also to receive a silver medal. Watts was one of the first to win this Challenge Cup which was still being competed for in the late 1970’s, though the practise of awarding a silver medal has long ceased.