Private Robert Watson

{ Rab }

18 Jul 1999

Private Rab Watson enlisted into the Army on 7 December 1944 and was sent to the 59th Primary Training Wing. After volunteering for airborne forces he was transferred to the Army Air Corps and posted to the Infantry Training Wing.

On 21 April 1945 Rab was posted to the Army Air Corps Depot and later attended RAF Ringway for Parachute Training Course 163 which ran from 7 to 24 May 1945. He was initially posted to No 1 Parachute Regiment Reserve Battalion after qualifying as a military parachutist.

He embarked for India, arriving in Bombay on 22 July 1945 and was posted to the Independent Pathfinder Company of 44 Indian Airborne Division. In 1946, after a short spell at 10th RAF General Headquarters he was posted to the 16th Parachute Battalion and served with them until embarking at Bombay for the UK in August 1946.

Shortly after his return to the UK, Rab was released to the Army reserve in October 1946.

Compiled By ParaData Editor (HG) with the kind assistance of Ian Watson

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winker watson said:
Rab was my father and as fate would have it I followed in his footsteps.
A great father and a good man. Sadly passed away in July 1999.
He will always be remembered and never forgotten amongst family and friends; including Den, Dil and Jim.

DILIP DEY said:
I remember Rab: what a deceiving character. I know full well the roll of a paratrooper, most of the time you're as good as what you can carry as a walking mule! This is a tall enough order for a big athletically built individual. So bearing in mind the theatre and time Rab soldiered in, and using the kit of the day, you can only marvel at what a true fighter he was. I believe he could have been a professional flat race jockey in America if he had accepted the offer,so he was obviously not a giant in a physical sense. One can only marvel at the tough Glaswegian, born of tough times, who always sported a knowing wry smile on his face and gave nothing away;typical of his generation.He will always be emblazoned on my mind; a great hospitable man. They always say behind a great man lies a great woman, his wife Bridget, with a great family. Never forgotten.

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