Donald Eric Ogilvy Watson DSC, RN

Birth details unknown
Died  11 Nov 1942HMS Unbeaten


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Ranks

11 Apr 1937 S.Lt.
26 Jan 1939 Lt.

Decorations

9 May 1940 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
12 Aug 1941 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)
14 Oct 1941 DSC

Warship Commands listed for Donald Eric Ogilvy Watson, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS P 511 (P 511)Lt.Submarine10 Apr 194210 Aug 1942
HMS Unbeaten (N 93)Lt.Submarine31 Aug 194211 Nov 1942 (+)

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Submarine HMS P 511 (P 511)


10 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSC, RN) shifted from Tobermory to Oban and back. Upon returning to Tobermory Lt. Watson took over as Commanding Officer from Lt. Ainslie. (1)

11 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Dunbar (T/Lt. R.A. Vallings, DSC, RNR), HMS Asie (Skr. F.C. Butler, RNR), HMS Llandudno (A/Cdr. R. Frederick, RN) and HMIS Orissa (Lt. D. Whyte, RIN). (1)

12 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Llandudno (A/Cdr. R. Frederick, RN), HMIS Orissa (Lt. D. Whyte, RIN), HMS Foula (T/Lt.Cdr. E.R.O.C. Greenstreet, RNVR) and HMS Stroma (Skr. J.S. Harper, RNR). (1)

13 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Charlestown (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN) and HMS Drangey (Skr. W.J. Jones, RNR). (1)

14 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory with HMS Charlestown (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN) and HMS Stroma (Skr. J.S. Harper, RNR). (1)

18 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Tobermory for Rothesay. (1)

19 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (1)

23 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

24 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

25 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

26 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (1)

27 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (1)

28 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (1)

29 Apr 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay. (1)

2 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

5 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

6 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

9 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) was docked at Kames Bay. (2)

15 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) was undocked at Kames Bay and returned to Rothesay. (2)

16 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

16 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (2)

19 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay and then to Kames Bay where she was docked again. (2)

27 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) was undocked at Kames Bay and returned to Rothesay. (2)

30 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

31 May 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

1 Jun 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

2 Jun 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (3)

3 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

4 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

5 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. Upon completion of these exercises she returned to Rothesay. (3)

9 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Rothesay for Campbeltown. (3)

10 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Campbeltown. Later the same day she participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

12 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

14 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

15 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

16 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

17 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

18 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

19 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

20 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

22 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

23 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

24 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

25 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

26 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

28 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

29 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

30 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (3)

1 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

2 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

3 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

4 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay. (4)

13 Jul 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Ardishaig. (4)

14 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) shifted from Ardishaig to Rothesay. (4)

15 Jul 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Scapa Flow. She made part of the passage together with HMS P 48 (Lt. M.E. Faber, RN) which was en-route to Lerwick. They were escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR). (4)

17 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow. (4)

18 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

21 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

22 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

23 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

24 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

25 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

27 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

28 Jul 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. These were first with HMS Sirius (Capt. P.W.B. Brooking, RN), then with HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, RN) and finally with destroyers. (4)

29 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

30 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

1 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (5)

3 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. (5)

4 Aug 1942
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (5)

5 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 511 (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (5)


Submarine HMS Unbeaten (N 93)


15 Sep 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) ended her refit at the Chatham Dockyard. (6)

17 Sep 1942
With her refit at the Chatham dockyard completed HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Sheerness for Portsmouth. She made the passage together with HMS P 51 (Lt. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Bungay. (7)

18 Sep 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) and HMS P 51 (Lt. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC, RN) arrive at Portsmouth. (7)

21 Sep 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Portsmouth for Plymouth. She was escorted by HMS Lord Stonehaven (Skr. A.F.S. Jenner, RNR). (7)

22 Sep 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Plymouth. At Plymouth (Devonport Dockyard) a radar set was fitted and R.D.F. trials followed. (7)

4 Oct 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Holy Loch. (6)

6 Oct 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of training. (7)

23 Oct 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 20th war patrol. This was the 1st patrol of her 2nd commission. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay (off Northern Spain) and to perform a special operation (Operation Bluestone), landing a special agent near Baiona, Spain (near Vigo).

Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS P 614 (Lt. H.W. Wilkinson, RN). The submarines were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(retired) R.H. Mack, RN). (7)

1 Nov 1942
At 2359 hours HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) signalled that she had completed operation Bluestone. (8)

8 Nov 1942
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) was recalled from patrol. (8)

11 Nov 1942
At 1319 hours HMS Unbeaten (Lt. D.E.O. Watson, DSC, RN) was ordered to report her position as it is feared she might have been attacked by friendly aircraft (an RAF Wellington of No. 172 Squadron, Coastal Command). She did not respond and failed the show up the next day at her rendez-vous position of Bishops Rock (with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN). The report of the friendly aircraft attack was unfortunately correct and resulted in the loss of HMS Unbeaten. There were no survivors.

Sources

  1. ADM 173/17493
  2. ADM 173/17494
  3. ADM 173/17495
  4. ADM 173/17496
  5. ADM 173/17497
  6. ADM 199/2573
  7. ADM 199/424
  8. ADM 199/1820

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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