Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Orange Free State and South Africa 1902 to 3rd Class Trooper Frank Watson in excellent condition with S.A.C. papers.
Frank Watson was born in the village of Polgate in County Sussex, England on 16 February 1882 the son of William Watson and his wife Emily.
His Attestation Paper, committing him to a 3 year stint with the S.A.C. was signed at Bloemfontein on 10 March 1902, shortly after he had arrived in South Africa.
On 1 March 1903 he was transferred to the Valsch River Sub – Division. The Valsch River ran alongside the Orange Free State town of Kroonstad where Watson was to spend most of his career.
On 1 September 1903 Watson blotted his copybook being found guilty of being Drunk on Duty. This was at Klerksdorp and he was fined the princely sum of £2 by Major De Castilla. Obviously not a fast learner he was found guilty of the very same charge two days later, when he had returned to Kroonstad. The very same fine was imposed making him a poorer but hopefully wiser man.
Watson was thrown a lifeline in respect of his first fine, being given the option of extra duty instead of a pecuniary penalty. Major De Castilla wrote, on 7 September, the following,
“1. Crime sheet herewith of E3833 3/C Trooper, F. Watson
2. He was found drunk in Klerksdorp assisting another, more drunk S.A.C. man, home.
3. I am prepared to give this man a second chance he has been a well balanced youngster up to date.”
On 29 September 1904, a year later, Watson was transferred to Kroonstad with effect from 1 October 1904. A week earlier he had written to apply for 3 months furlough pending his discharge with permission to proceed to England commencing from the 13th November 1904.
Captain Kitson, in recommending the leave wrote that “he is a Butcher by trade and I know of no other special qualification”. He also added that “the above man has been under my command for 2 years and 8 months and during that time his character has been good”
Unexpectedly, on 27 December 1904, a memorandum was received to the effect that “Trooper Watson now wishes to remain and spend his furlough in South Africa, he having been promised employment at the Kamfersdam Mine in Kimberley”.
Having been finally “settled up” and discharged from the S.A.C. Watson, on 27 March 1906, wrote to Captain Kidson from the Sanitary Department, Town Office, Kimberley Town Hall asking if he was entitled to the war medal as “I served under you in the SAC for three years”
This request was acceded to and Watson returned the slip having signed by way of acknowledgment for the Queens Medal and three clasps, for service in South Africa.
At some point in time Watson made his way back to England where he passed away on 1 November 1953. His residence at the time was 87 Dudley Road, Eastbourne. He was survived by his wife, Gabrielle Marie Germaine Watson to whom he bequeathed the sum of 2295 pounds.
