Fischer Burges Watson

Rear-Admiral Fischer Burges Watson, C.B.E., D.S.O., Royal Navy (9 September, 1884 – 14 August, 1960) was an officer of the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Southampton, the son of Captain Burges Watson, R.N..

Watson was promoted to Lieutenant in August, 1905.

As a Lieutenant, Watson was appointed in command of the destroyer Dasher on 26 August, 1909.

On 2 May, 1911, Watson was appointed in command of the destroyer Dee.

Watson was promoted to Lieutenant-Commander in August, 1913.

On 17 October, 1914, Watson commanded the destroyer H.M.S. Loyal as one of four destroyers of the Third Destroyer Flotilla Captain Cecil H. Fox in the Undaunted led in the Battle off Texel, where the British succeeded in destroying an inferior force of four torpedo boats.

Watson was promoted to Commander in December, 1914.

As a Commander, Burges Watson was appointed in command of the flotilla leader Shakespeare on 16 September, 1918.

Watson was promoted to Captain in December, 1921.

In April 1924, Watson was appointed in command of the light cruiser Caledon.

On 26 May, 1930, Watson was appointed in command of the battleship Nelson as Flag Captain to Admiral Hodges. He served as First Naval Member of the New Zealand Naval Board until being superseded by Captain Drummond on 27 April, 1935.

Watson was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 17 September, 1935.

Who was Who

WATSON, Rear-Admiral Fischer Burges CBE 1943; DSO 1917

Born Sept. 1884; e s of late Rear-Admiral Burges Watson and Marie Thérèse Fischer, Sydney, NS Wales; m 1st, 1909, Sybil Mona Caroline (d 1926), o d of late Major Harry Holden of Bramcote Hills, Notts.; three d; 2nd, 1931, Mabel Harford, 3rd d of late Captain P. C. Underwood, RN; died 14 Aug. 1960

EDUCATION private school (Ashdown House, Forest Row); HMS Britannia

CAREER Midshipman, 1900; retired list, 1935; Convoy Service, 1939–42 (despatches); Captain Landingship Flotilla, Med., 1943–44 (despatches, CBE, bar to DSO)

RECREATIONS Games, shooting, fishing

ADDRESS Monks Horton, Bosham, Sussex

Bibliography

• "Rear-Adml. F. B. Watson" (Obituaries). The Times. Tuesday, 16 August, 1960. Issue 54851, col E, pg. 10.

Service Records

• The National Archives. ADM 196/49.

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Hamilton C. Allen	Captain of H.M.S. Dasher 26 Aug, 1909 – 1 Jul, 1910	Succeeded by Spencer F. Russell
Preceded by Oliver M. F. Stokes	Captain of H.M.S. Eden 1 Jul, 1910 – 2 May, 1911	Succeeded by Herbert F. Littledale
Preceded by Harold E. Sulivan	Captain of H.M.S. Dee 2 May, 1911 – 7 Sep, 1912	Succeeded by Gordon McL. Cameron
Preceded by Hubert S. Cardale	Captain of H.M.S. Saracen 7 Sep, 1912 – 31 Mar, 1914	Succeeded by Arthur S. D. George
Preceded by New Command	Captain of H.M.S. Loyal 28 Apr, 1914 – Apr, 1917	Succeeded by Colin S. Thomson
Preceded by Colin S. Thomson	Captain of H.M.S. Tempest 14 Apr, 1917 – 16 Sep, 1918	Succeeded by Valentine M. Wyndham-Quin
Preceded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith	Captain of H.M.S. Shakespeare 16 Sep, 1918 – 19 Mar, 1919	Succeeded by Frederick E. K. Strong
Preceded by Robert G. Hamond	Captain of H.M.S. Velox 19 Mar, 1919 – 18 Jun, 1919	Succeeded by Maxwell N. Williamson-Napier
Preceded by Dudley B. N. North	Captain of H.M.S. Caledon 9 Apr, 1924 – Apr, 1926	Succeeded by Miles B. Birkett
Preceded by Robin C. Dalglish	Naval Assistant to the Second Sea Lord 25 Jun, 1928 – 5 May, 1930	Succeeded by John C. Tovey
Preceded by Thomas H. Binney	Captain of H.M.S. Nelson late May, 1930 – Dec, 1931	Succeeded by Alban T. B. Curteis
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Diomede Apr, 1932 – Aug, 1933	Succeeded by Cosmo M. Graham
Preceded by Geoffrey Blake	Rear-Admiral Commanding, New Zealand Station 17 Apr, 1932 – Mar, 1935	Succeeded by The Hon. Edmund R. Drummond
Preceded by Martin J. C. de Meric	Captain of H.M.S. Dunedin Aug, 1933 – Mar, 1935	Succeeded by The Hon. Edmund R. Drummond