Description
1914-15 Star Trio, RNLSGC, Royal Marines Meritorious Service Medal, GVI, Quartermaster Sergeant Instructor Reginald Watts, Royal Marines Light Infantry, lived to the age of 94.
RM MSM officially impressed: “CH. 17534 Q.M.S.I. R. Watts. 28.2.1951.”
1914-15 Star Officially impressed: “CH. 17534 Pte. R. Watts. R.M.L.I.”
WW1 Pair officially impressed: “CH. 17534 R. Watts. R.M.L.I.”
Naval LSGC officially impressed: “CH. 17534 R. Watts. Sgt. R.M.” Awarded 1929.
Also including: Silk Ribbon Bar with reverse screws for Trio and LSGC, Lawn Tennis Umpires Association Badge by Fattorini, 2 Silver RM Football Medals, one “2nd C.S. league Winners 1928-29 HMS Vindictive R. Watts” and another “R Watts HMS Vindictive Kings Cup 1928”, also an ARP Badge
Medals all unworn and un mounted on ribbons, although he served many years, he never appears to have bothered wearing his medals, likely preferring his silk screw on ribbon bar which is included.
Reginald Watts was born on 30th August 1895, and died 94 years later in 1989.
He was born into the Royal Marines, his father being Sergeant Major, at the time Colour Sergeant Robert Watts, Royal Marines, Born 1862, served 1879-1899, Sergeant Major and Warrant Officer.
He was born at the Royal Marines Depot at Walmer, Deal, Kent, on 30th August 1895.
1 day after his 17th Birthday, he enlisted at Plymouth for service with the Royal Marines on 31st August 1912 at the Recruiting Depot in Deal.
Exactly like that of his distinguished Father, who had similarly signed up as a 17 year old, to rise to the highest ranks of an NCO.
During the First World War he saw ships service:
Embarked on the Undaunted under Capt Cecil Fox, from 29th August 1914 until 19th December 1914, Annihilated the German Squadron in the Battle of Texel.
In the early days of the war, he was on HMS Undaunted for a few months, when he took part in the Naval “Battle of Texel” on 17th October 1914, fought off the coast of the Dutch Island of Texel, the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla Harwich Forces consisted of the Light Cruiser HMS Undaunted under Capt Cecil Fox along with 4 Laforey Class Destroyers, Lennox, Lance, Loyal and Legion, managed to encounter a German Squadron of Torpedo Baots under Georg Thiele.
Undaunted led the attack and was extremely successful, they annihilated the German 7th Half Flotilla, who notably fought to last man and lost their entire flotilla, 200 sailors were killed including the Commanding Officer.
After the battle on 30th November, a British Trawler happened to pull up a sealed chest thrown overboard of S119 by Captain Thiele during the action to keep it from the British. Once opened it contained a German Codebook used by the German Light Forces stationed on the coast, which allowed the British to secretly decipher intercepted German communications long after the action had ended.
New Ship, HMS Orotava from 21st December 1914 to 27th October 1915., under Captain Godfrey Edwin Corbett.
HMS Orotava, was a Commercial Liner built in 1889 that was formerly used in the Boer War as a Transport Ship, and was taken under the Royal Navy’s command in 1914 to become an A.M.C. or Armed Merchant Cruiser with B Line of the 10th Crusier Squadron.
During the First World War, this force was known as “Cruiser Force B” or “The Northern Patrol”, by the time Marine Watts had joined, the force formerly manned by Cruisers was mostly replaced by Armed Merchant Cruisers that had been recently pressed into war service.
The previous Edgar class destroyers were replaced in August 1914 by the newly equipped AMCs, which were faster, longer ranged and had better sea keeping and more reliable machinery than the Edgar Cruisers.
Becoming a Signals Expert, 1916-1934
With his return to shore he Joined HMS Wildfire, and began to specialised in Royal Marine Signalling.
He began to see promotion from 1916, lance Corporal on 11th Apri 1916, then passing his Signals Service Examination on 26th may 1916.
Advanced to Corporal on 15th March 1917.
Promoted to Sergeant on 30th September 1922.
Employed as an Assistant Signalling Instructor from 10th Dec 1923 – 9th Dec 1926.
Attached to the School of Signalling for Duty, 8th May 1928 – 19th August 1928. During this period he was requalified as Royal marines Signalling Instructor (D) on 5th May 1928.
Appointed as Quarter Master Sergeant Instructor of Signals on 24th January 1929.
