Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The regimentally rare G.S.M. ‘Malaya’ casualty medal awarded to Trooper B. Watson, 1st Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, attached 22 Special Air Service Regiment, who drowned during a training incident - along with 3 others - swimming in full jungle dress across a lake at Sungai Besi, 21 March 1953

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Malaya, G.VI.R. (19034207 Pte. B. Watson. Wilts.) in named card box of issue, with named Army Council Enclosure, and OHMS transmission envelope, addressed to ‘Mr. A. Watson, 75 Preston Grove, Yeovil, Somerset’, extremely fine £1,200-£1,600

Bernard Watson was born in Yeovil, Somerset in August 1928. He attested for the Wiltshire Regiment at Bristol in October 1946, and served as Drummer with the 1st Battalion. He left the Battalion in Hong Kong, 9 March 1953, and transferred for training with 22 S.A.S. This was tragically short-lived, when he died during a training incident as recorded in the Daily Mail, 23 March 1953:

‘Kuala Lumpur, Sunday. Two officers and two privates were drowned in an old mining pool near here yesterday while carrying out water-crossing training for operations.

All four were attached to 22nd Special Air Service Regiment. S.A.S. troops have often been dropped behind enemy lines for sabotage work.

One of the four, Trooper Bernard Watson aged 25, of Yeovil had arrived in Malaya from Hong Kong less than a week ago. The others were: Trooper E. Duckworth of Liverpool; Second Lieutenant F. M. Donnelly-Wood and Lieutenant Cartwright.

The Army has put a security ban on statements pending an inquiry.’

The following additional detail was provided in a letter to Watson’s father by The War Office, dated 9 May 1953:

‘I write to inform you that the full report of the circumstances attending the death of your son 19034207 Pte B. Watson Wilts (Attached 22 SAS Regt), has now been received from the Military authorities overseas. The report discloses the following information:

Your son was a member of a party undergoing specialist training which included an exercise in water crossing. The exercise took place on the 21st March, 1953 and involved swimming in full jungle dress across a lake at Sungai Besi, a distance of approximately sixty yards. The stronger swimmers were to swim over to the other side of the lake, man the assault boats moored there and bring the boats back to assist the weaker swimmers across.

Your son entered the water with the first wave of swimmers. When some twenty yards or so from the starting shore he was seen to be in difficulties and turning back. He sank before rescuers could reach the spot, and repeated efforts were made to locate him. When successful, he was at once brought by boat to the shore, and artificial respiration was immediately commenced. The Medical Officer, however, confirmed that death had already taken place. A post-mortem examination revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to drowning.

After a thorough investigation it was found that your son was on duty at the time of his death and that he was in no way to blame.’

Trooper Watson is buried in the Cheras Road Christian Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur, and is commemorated at The National Arboretum.

Sold with the following related documents: Certified Copy of Attestation; Statement of Accounts for recipient, with War Office enclosure, dated 20 August 1953; Wiltshire Regiment Certificate of Appreciation, dated 7 March 1953; War Office correspondence relating to recipient’s death, and his last effects; 3 Post Cards depicting H.M.T. Lancashire, written to recipient’s family documenting his travel on the vessel, 2 dated 16 February 1952 and the other dated 24 February 1952; 4 Coloured Photographs of recipient, all reverses annotated ‘Sep. 1950 Camp Tam Mi, Nr. Hong Kong, China. With lots of love & kisses. Bernard’; Daily Mail newspaper cutting concerning recipient’s death; other ephemera and copied research.