Watson was educated at the King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth, Lincolnshire,[1][2] before attending the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

[4] Watson was a 30 years old lieutenant in the Royal Engineers, British Army, attached to the Bengal Engineers, British Indian Army[5] during the First Mohmand Campaign in North-West India, when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC: For their parts in the action, Lieutenant James Morris Colquhoun Colvin and Corporal James Smith also received the VC.

Gaining promotion to captain in 1899[7] and major in 1906,[8] Watson spent a number of years in the Military Works Service in India.

[11] He died in London on 15 June 1917, aged 50, of illness contracted while serving in Mesopotamia during World War I,[9] and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium.

[2] They was purchased by Lord Ashcroft, a collector of Victoria Crosses, and are displayed at the Imperial War Museum.