THE death of Colonel Sir Charles Watson on March 15, after a few days

illness, came as a great shock to his many friends, and has deprived the

Society and the country of one who has done much for the organization of

geographical and archæological research in Palestine. The son of William

Watson, a well-known civil engineer, he was born in Dublin on 10 July 1844.

After taking his degree with high honours at Trinity College, Dublin, and pass-

ing both in and out of Woolwich at the head of the list, he was commissioned

lieutenant in 1866 in the Royal Engineers. The daily press has told in detail

the story of his distinguished military career, and we will devote our space

mainly to the archæological and geographical interests to which he gave so

much of his time after his period of active service. It will suffice here to say

that, after specializing at Chatham in submarine engineering, then in its infancy,

he joined General Gordon for survey work in the Sudan in 1874, but was soon

invalided home, though not before accomplishing a useful piece of work on the

Upper Nile (see Journ. R.G.S., vol. 46, p. 412). In the following years he was

engaged on plans for the defence of London under the Inspector-General of

Fortifications, and later served for two years in the India Office. In 1880 he

married a daughter of the Rev. Russell Cook and granddaughter of the scholar

César Malan, of Geneva. When the Egyptian Expedition was sent out in 1882,

he was appointed to the Intelligence Department, and the story of his ride

to Cairo after the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and his capture, with a mere handful

of men, of the citadel and its garrison of 6000 Egyptian troops, is one of the

most dashing episodes in the annals of the British Army. For these services

he received a brevet-majority and the order of the Medjidieh. He returned to

Egypt in 1883, assisting Sir Evelyn Wood in the creation of an Egytian army,

and for a time was Acting Sirdar. In 1885 he was decorated with the Osma-

nieh and given the rank of Pasha (major-general) in the Egyptian army; in

the following year he acted for six months at Suakin as Governor-General

of the Red Sea Littoral. From 1891 to 1902 he served as Assistant and Deputy

Inspector-General of Fortifications, and during this period he studied the

barrack system in Germany.

Sir Charles travelled much, and had long been a zealous supporter of

the R.G.S., which he joined in 1875. In 1893 his services on its Council

were secured for the first time, and were thenceforward freely at its disposal,

with but occasional intervals, until a year ago. After his retirement from the

army (when he received a C.B.) he acted as British Government Delegate to

International Navigation Congresses at Düsseldorf in 1902, Milan in 1905, and

Petrograd in 1908. His faculty for organization was utilized in 1904 when he

served as Secretary to the Royal Commission for the St. Louis Exhibition and

Commissioner-General, for which he received his K.C.M.G. His first visit to

Palestine was in 1891, and during the following years he wrote and lectured

much on Palestinian excavation. In 1905 he succeeded Sir Charles Wilson as

Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, and

from that time until his death he took a leading part in organizing British

excavation in that country.

The Fund had already conducted excavations at Tel Jezar, the site of the

Canaanite city of Gezer, which was still a strong fortress in Maccabæan times

and continued to be a place of importance after the occupation of Palestine by

the Crusaders. The modern village was fortunately not on the mound itself but

in the plain at one end of it, and excavations were unhampered over practically

the whole of the site. The most interesting find, made during a second period

of excavation in 1905-7, was an early Canaanite castle, built long anterior to the

Hebrew occupation, probably at the time of the first colonization of the country

by the Western Semites; it was furnished with a remarkable rock-tunnel lead-

ing by a flight of steps to an underground spring which served as the citadel's

water-supply. The success of the Fund's work upon this site, and the monu-

mental publication of the results, owed much to its chairman's energy and

enthusiasm. A further important excavation was made in 1911-12 in another

South Palestinian mound, Ain Shems, the site of Beth Shemesh, a city succes-

sively occupied by Canaanites, Philistines, and Hebrews. Here the pottery of

the Philistine stratum proved of exceptional interest, for it was found to bear a

strong resemblance to Ægean fabrics, and supported the view that the Philis-

tines were a people who had come from oversea.

It is gratifying to recall that Sir Charles Watson lived to see the completion

of the Fund's great survey of Palestine. The southern section, up to the

Egyptian border, was brought to a successful conclusion shortly before the war,

and though the maps, for obvious reasons, have not yet been published, the

archæological results were issued as the Annual Volume for 1914-15.

Last year Sir Charles completed ten years of strenuous work as Chairman

of the Fund's Committee, and the Fund itself celebrated the fiftieth year of its

activity in Palestine. To commemorate the latter event he prepared a record

of the surveys, excavations, and researches it had carried out, and this has been

issued under the title' Fifty Years' Work in the Holy Land.' In 1912 he pub-

lished a volume on 'Jerusalem' in the "Medieval Towns Series," and it was

illustrated by Lady Ward, who always accompanied him on his journeys in

Palestine and elsewhere. For many years he was a contributor to the

Quarterly Statement of the Fund, and to other archæological journals, more

than one of his papers dealing with ancient weights and measures, a subject in

which he took a keen interest; his study of British Weights and Measures'

was published in 1910. He was a good Arabic scholar and issued vocabularies

on Arabic, Hadendoa, etc., for the use of British troops in Egypt.

In 1906 he edited Sir Charles Wilson's 'Golgotha and the Holy Sepulchre,'

and in the 'Life' he wrote of his friend, published in 1909, he successfully

defended Wilson's conduct of the Gordon Relief Expedition. He always took

a keen interest in historical research, especially in relation to the army, and he

contributed the third volume to Whitworth Porter's 'History of the Royal

Engineers.' At the present moment his paper on "Universal Service," written

in 1909, is of peculiar interest, and its arguments have been fully justified. Sir

Charles Watson was a man of great personal charm, of wide interests and

ceaseless activity; and in all that he undertook he brought to bear, as one of

his friends has lately told us, a perfect habit of method and order. His death

is a very serious loss to Palestinian archæology and research.

L. W. KING.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} </div></div> Obituary: King, L. W. “Obituary: Sir Charles Watson.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 47, no. 5, 1916, pp. 387–89. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/1779648. Accessed 3 Aug. 2023.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6} Military: "UK, Regimental Registers of Service, 1756-1900"
   The National Archives; Kew, Surrey, England; Class Number: WO 25; Class Title: Including campaigns, marriages, births of children, names and address of next of kin, etc. (with Index); Piece Number: 3914; Piece Title: Including campaigns, marriages, births of children, names and address of next of kin, etc. (with Index)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 3253 #373470 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   Name: Charles Moore Watson; Age: 21; Birth Date: 10 Jul 1844; Birth Place: Dublin; Military Date: 17 Apr 1866; Unit: Royal Engineers.
3. ↑ Military: "Great Britain, War Office Registers, 1772-1935"
   citing Digital film/folder number: 007653803; Record number: 0
   FamilySearch Record: QLBD-5CFH (accessed 3 August 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C95X-ZS35-P Image number 00193
   Name: Charles Moore Watson; Military Draft Registration Date: 17 Apr 1866; Military Draft Registration Place: United Kingdom; Birth Date: 1844; Birth Place: Dublin; Age: 21.
4. ↑ Military Directory: "Ireland, City and Regional Directories, 1792-1949"
   Royal College of Physicians of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Collection (Thom's Directories For Ireland)
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 61314 #1128679 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   Name: Chas.moore Watson; Residence Date: 1867; Residence Street Address: Roy.eng.; Residence Place: Ireland.
5. ↑ Marriage: "Belfast, Northern Ireland, The Belfast Newsletter (Birth, Marriage and Death Notices), 1738-1925"
   Linen Hall Library; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Periodicals & Newspapers, Irish & Reference
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 2193 #1261854 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   
   WATSON-COOKE - May 11, at St. Mary's Church,

   Montrose, Scotland. Charles More [sic] Watson, Captain

   Royal Engineers, to Genevieve, eldest daughter if

   the late Rev. Russell S. Cooke.
6. ↑ 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881"
   citing p. 2, Piece/Folio 22/115, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,774,318
   FamilySearch Record: Q27S-BNL7 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   FindMyPast Image
   Charles M Watson (36), married, Captn Royal Engineers, head of household in Kensington, London in Kensington registration district in Middlesex, England. Born in Dublin, Ireland.
7. ↑ Freemason Membership: "England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921"
   Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Register of Contributions: London Lodges, 1339-1772
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60620 #1556970 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   Name: Charles Moore Watson; Gender: Male; Initiation Age: 36; Birth Year: abt 1845; Initiation Date: 25 Apr 1881; First Payment Year on Register: 1881; Year range: 1863-1887; Profession: Captn R. C.; Lodge: Bayard; Lodge Number: 1615; Folio Number: 155.
8. ↑ Freemason Membership: "England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921"
   Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: London F 1541-1679 to London G 1681-1922; Reel Number: 4
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60620 #465040 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   Name: Charles Moore Watson; Gender: Male; Initiation Date: 1881; First Payment Year on Register: 1888; Year range: 1887-1909; Lodge: Bayard Lodge; Lodge Number: 1615; Folio Number: 147.
9. ↑ Freemason Membership: "England, United Grand Lodge of England Freemason Membership Registers, 1751-1921"
   Library and Museum of Freemasonry; London, England; Freemasonry Membership Registers; Description: Membership Registers: London F 1541-1679 to London G 1681-1922; Reel Number: 4
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 60620 #465111 (accessed 3 August 2023)
   Name: Charles Moore Watson; Gender: Male; Initiation Date: 1881; First Payment Year on Register: 1899; Year range: 1887-1909; Lodge: Bayard Lodge; Lodge Number: 1615; Folio Number: 149.
10. ↑ 1901 Electoral Register: "London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965"
    London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; Electoral Registers
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 1795 #44354116 (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Name: Charles Moore Watson; Electoral Date: 1901; Street Address: 43 Thurloe; Ward or Division/Constituency: Kensington South; County or Borough: Kensington and Chelsea, England.
11. ↑ 1902 Directory: "UK, City and County Directories, 1766 - 1946"
    UK, City and County Directories, 1600s-1900s
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 3145 #12164137 (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Name: Col Charles Moore Watson; Publication Year: 1902; Residence Place: London, England; Occupation: O.M.G., R.B.
12. ↑ 1910 Directory: "London, England, City Directories, 1736-1943"
    London Metropolitan Archives; London, England; London City Directories
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry uk Record 61265 #4347553 (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Name: Sir Col. Charles Moore Watson; Residence Date: 1910; Street Address: 16 Wilton crescent; Residence Place: London, England; Occupation: K.c.m.g., C.b., R.E.
13. ↑ 1911 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1911"
    citing PRO RG 14, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey
    FamilySearch Record: XWLQ-ZPQ (accessed 3 August 2023)
    FindMyPast Image
    Charles Moore Watson (66), married, Colonel Retired Royal Engineer, head of household in St George Hanover Square in St George registration district in London, England. Born in Ireland, County Dublin.
14. ↑ Death: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007"
    citing Death, St. George Hanover Square, London, England, General Register Office, Southport, England
    FamilySearch Record: 2JWP-7PX (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Charles M Watson death registered Jan-Feb-Mar 1916 in St. George Hanover Square (age 71).
15. ↑ Irish Probate: "Ireland Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920"
    citing 00773, 005014919, Principal Probate Registry, Dublin; 101,005
    FamilySearch Record: KZ5K-MLJ (accessed 3 August 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GTMT-WN2
    Charles Moore Watson probate on 15 Mar 1916 in Middlesex.
16. ↑ English Probate: "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957"
    citing Probate, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm
    FamilySearch Record: QPLD-GQVR (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Charles Moore Watson probate on 23 Jun 1916 in Middlesex, England, United Kingdom. Died 15 Mar 1916.
17. ↑ Burial: "England, Surrey Parish Registers, 1536-1992"
    citing Burial, Putney, Surrey, England, United Kingdom, London Metropolitan Archives, England; FHL microfilm 1,785,892
    FamilySearch Record: QGZ5-Z7QW (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Charles Moore Watson burial (died age 71) on 17 Mar 1916 in Putney Vale Cemetery, Wandsworth, Surrey, England.
18. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #141683004 (accessed 3 August 2023)
    Memorial page for Col Charles Moore Watson (1844-1916), citing Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, Putney Vale, London Borough of Wandsworth, Greater London, England; Maintained by julia&keld (contributor 46812479).

• Wikidata: Item Q16944185, en:Wikipedia
• Morray, David. Watson, Sir Charles Moore. Dictionary of Irish Biography (2009). https://www.dib.ie/biography/watson-sir-charles-moore-a8939.
• Owen, C. V. Watson, Sir Charles Moore (1844-1916). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004). https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-36766.