Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

1914-15 Star (Lieut. R. H. Watts, R.M.L.I.) very fine £ 140-180

Reginald Hanhart Watts was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 21 June 1896 and was commissioned into the R.M.L.I. on 29 August 1914, being promoted to Lieutenant in March 1915 and to Captain in August 1918. Lieutenant Watts was wounded in action in the Dardanelles, 1 May 1915, having suffered a bullet wound to the right humerus. He was found to be fit for active service once more in September the same year.

He later served in North Russia, as 2i/c. of the Chatham “B” Company, 6th Royal Marine Battalion. The 6th Battalion was originally formed for ceremonial duties in Schleswig-Holstein and included young recruits and men who had been returned from German P.O.W. camps. The latter, not having opportunity to return home after the Armistice, were not especially pleased to be going to fight the Bolsheviks. They were posted to the Lake Onega region. On 8 September 1919 two companies refused duty; 90 men were tried and found guilty of mutiny by a court martial, of which 13 men were sentenced to death and others sentenced up to five years imprisonment. None of the death sentences were carried out. The 90 mutineers were shipped to Bodmin Prison where they continued their resistance to authority. This resistance paid off, in that the 13 sentenced to death had their sentences commuted to 5 years imprisonment, but 12 were released after just one year, the other after two years. Twenty men, originally given 5 years were released after six months; 51 men sentenced to two years were released within six months. In recognition of the fact that their officers had acted contrary to Army instructions in employing young and inexperienced lads at the front, the remainder of those arrested were either released or had their sentences commuted to 6 months. Following the announcement, on 22 December 1919 re. nineteen of these acts of clemency, the First Lord of the Admiralty told the Commons that ‘bad leadership’ was a factor behind the mutiny. He further hinted at possible disciplinary measures being taken against several officers.

One such officer found at fault was Captain Watts. Following the wounding of Major Barnby, 8 September 1919, command of “B” Company, 6th R.M. Battalion devolved upon Captain Watts. Watts, appearing to suffer a mental and physical collapse, ordered his men to retire from their position. He was later found, half carried, half pushed by his men, dazed and incoherent, stating that all was lost. Unsurprisingly this rattled many of the men and caused many to withdraw without orders. In the subsequent court martial, Captain Watts was acquitted on a charge of ‘Cowardice’ but convicted on a charge of ‘using words calculated to create alarm and despondency’. He was ordered to be dismissed from the service but in the event was ‘permitted to resign his commission at his own request’ on 7 February 1920. (Ref. Mutiny in Murmansk, ‘The Hidden Shame’, Royal Marines Historical Society, Special Publication No. 21).

On 28 October 1920 he joined the Auxiliary Division of the Royal Irish Constabulary - the ‘Black and Tans’, with the service number ‘891’. Posted to ‘M’ Company. It is noted that he was fined £15.15.0. by his company commander. He resigned at his own request in April 1921. In 1934 he was apprehended by the civil powers for theft - the charges were proved but he was discharged.

With copied service papers; extracts from the above publication and photocopied photographs from Captain Watt’s photograph album (original held by the Royal Marines Museum).