View source for Bertram Chalmers Watson

{{ViceRN}} '''Bertram Chalmers Watson''', C.B., D.S.O., Royal Navy (20 March, 1887 &ndash; ) served in the [[Royal Navy]].

==Life & Career==
Watson was promoted to the rank of {{LieutRN}} on 15 May, 1908.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

He was sent to {{UK-Dryad}} to qualify in navigation on 29 January, 1910, emerging on 4 August despite taking a break on 28 June to serve in {{UK-Caesar}} during the annual manoeuvres.  His then became assistant navigator in {{UK-Vanguard}} on 4 August, but remained there only a month.  He was then navigation officer in a succession of cruisers:  appointed to {{UK-Hebe}} on 26 September, 1910, {{UK-Apollo}} on 20 March, 1911 and {{UK-1Medea}} on 1 August, 1912.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

==Great War==
Watson studied German in early 1914 and was appointed as Lieutenant (N) in {{UK-1Arethusa}} on 6 July, 1914.  He was in her until she was lost to a mine on 11 February, 1916.  He was then appointed Lieutenant (N) to {{UK-Canterbury}} for six weeks and then in {{UK-Carysfort}}.  When the Commodore's flag transferred to {{UK-Centaur}}, Watson followed.

Watson was promoted to the rank of {{LCommRN}} on 15 May, 1916.  He remained as navigator in {{UK-Centaur}} until January, 1918.  He then moved to {{UK-Curacoa}}, in which he finished out the war, being promoted to the rank of {{CommRN}} on 30 June, 1918.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

==Post-War==
Watson was promoted to the rank of {{CaptRN}} on 31 December, 1925.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

Watson was appointed to {{UK-Broke}} on 31 May, 1928, taking command upon her commissioning and also becoming Captain (D) of the {{UK-DF|4}}.  He'd be superseded in this position in April, 1930.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

Watson was appointed in command of the {{UK-Curlew|f=t}} in July, 1932.

In August, 1933, he was appointed in command of the {{UK-Valiant|f=t}}.

Watson was promoted to the rank of {{RearRN}} on 23 July, 1936.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

==World War II==
On 18 January, 1940, he was appointed Flag Officer in Charge, Greenock.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

Watson was promoted to the rank of {{ViceRN}} on the Retired List on 4 May, 1940.  He was placed on the Retired List on 6 May.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

On 3 March, 1942, he joined the Liverpool Convoy Pool, serving in the rank of Commodore, Second Class, R.N.R..  He stayed there until 1 March, 1943.  In May, 1943 he was sent to work with the Engineering Selection Board, Scotland Region.  This work apparently entailed finding suitable cadets for training in the engineering field.  In July, 1943 this appointment was terminated.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

On 31 October, 1943 he was made Flag Officer Commanding, Iceland, where he served in the rank of Rear Admiral until 7 August, 1945.<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>

==See Also==
{{refbegin}}
{{WP|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertram_Chalmers_Watson}}
{{refend}}

<div name=fredbot:appts>{{TabApptsBegin}}
{{TabNaval}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Hector Boyes|Hector Boyes]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Hollyhock (1915)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Hollyhock'']]'''<br>15 Oct, 1921<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref> &ndash; 29 Dec, 1923<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Geoffrey Peace|Alfred G. Peace]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cyril Herbert Gordon Benson|Cyril H. G. Benson]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Broke (1920)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Broke'']]'''<br>31 May, 1928{{NLFeb29|p. 219}}<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref> &ndash; Apr, 1930<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Clive Denison Arbuthnot|Clive D. Arbuthnot]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Cyril Herbert Gordon Benson|Cyril H. G. Benson]]'''|'''[[Fourth Destroyer Flotilla (Royal Navy)|Captain (D), Fourth Destroyer Flotilla]]'''<br>31 May, 1928<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref> &ndash; Apr, 1930<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Hugh Hext Rogers|Hugh H. Rogers]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Charles Austin Browne|Charles A. Browne]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Curlew (1917)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Curlew'']]'''<br>22 Jul, 1932{{NLJan33|p. 228}}<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref> &ndash; 24 Aug, 1933<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Charles Norman Ebden Currey|Charles N. E. Currey]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Wellwood George Courtenay Maxwell|Wellwood G. C. Maxwell]]'''|'''[[H.M.S. Valiant (1914)|Captain of H.M.S. ''Valiant'']]'''<br>24 Aug, 1933<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref> &ndash; Aug, 1934<ref>Watson Service Record.  {{TNA|ADM 196/50/339.}} f. 341.</ref>|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Alfred Hugh Taylor|Alfred H. Taylor]]'''}}
{{TabApptsRow|Preceded by<br>'''[[Robert Henry Taunton Raikes|Robert H. T. Raikes]]'''|'''[[:Category:Submarine (UK)|Rear-Admiral (S)]]'''<br>15 Dec, 1938 &ndash; 18 Jan, 1940|Succeeded by<br>'''[[Max Kennedy Horton|Sir Max Horton]]'''}}
{{TabEnd}}
</div name=fredbot:appts>

==Footnotes==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Bertram}}

{{CatPerson|UK|1887|}}
{{CatNavigatingOfficer|UK}}
{{CatVice|UK}}
{{CatBritannia|January, 1902}}
{{CatRN}}