Tasker Watkins: Difference between revisions
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==Details== |
==Details== |
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Tasker Watkins was born in the small town of [[Nelson, Caerphilly|Nelson]], [[Caerphilly]], and educated at [[Pontypridd Grammar School]]. |
Born the son of a [[coal]] [[miner]],<ref name="BBC1">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/south_east/6985799.stm War hero Sir Tasker Watkins dies] BBC Wales News - 9 September 2007</ref> Watkins was born in the small town of [[Nelson, Caerphilly|Nelson]], [[Caerphilly]], and educated at [[Pontypridd Grammar School]]. |
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===World War Two=== |
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He was 25 years old, and a [[lieutenant]] in the 1/5th battalion, [[The Welch Regiment]], [[British Army]] during the [[Second World War]] when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC. |
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A [[lieutenant]] in the 1/5th battalion, [[The Welch Regiment]], he was one officer leading a group in [[Normandy]] post [[D-Day]] leading an assult on a [[Nazi]] machine gun post. After all the other officers were killed, Watkins continued to lead the group. The first Welsh man to be awarded a VC during the [[Second World War]], his citation read: |
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On [[16 August]] [[1944]] at [[Barfour]], Normandy, [[France]], Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle. |
On [[16 August]] [[1944]] at [[Barfour]], Normandy, [[France]], Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle. |
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===Legal career=== |
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He later achieved the rank of [[major]], and on leaving the army, entered the legal profession. He was called to the bar in 1948 and became a barrister at the [[Middle Temple]]. He became a QC in 1965 and in 1966 served as deputy to [[Sir Elwyn Jones]] on the tribunal into the [[Aberfan]] disaster. He became a High Court judge in 1971, the same year in which he was knighted. He was promoted to the [[Court of Appeal]] and became a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]] in [[1980]]. He later became deputy [[lord chief justice]]. |
He later achieved the rank of [[major]], and on leaving the army, entered the legal profession. He was called to the bar in 1948 and became a barrister at the [[Middle Temple]]. He became a QC in 1965 and in 1966 served as deputy to [[Sir Elwyn Jones]] on the tribunal into the [[Aberfan]] disaster. He became a High Court judge in 1971, the same year in which he was knighted. He was promoted to the [[Court of Appeal]] and became a [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Counsellor]] in [[1980]]. He later became deputy [[lord chief justice]]. |
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His Victoria Cross is on display in the Welch Regiment Museum located in [[Cardiff Castle]]. |
His Victoria Cross is on display in the Welch Regiment Museum located in [[Cardiff Castle]]. |
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He died on [[9th September]] [[2007]] in [[Cardiff]].<ref>[http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=welsh-hero-tasker-dies-at-88%26method=full%26objectid=19759728%26siteid=50082-name_page.html Welsh hero Tasker dies at 88] icWales.co.uk - 9 September, 2007</ref><ref |
He died on [[9th September]] [[2007]] in [[Cardiff]].<ref>[http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=welsh-hero-tasker-dies-at-88%26method=full%26objectid=19759728%26siteid=50082-name_page.html Welsh hero Tasker dies at 88] icWales.co.uk - 9 September, 2007</ref><ref name="BBC1"/> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 12:43, 9 September 2007
Sir Tasker Watkins VC GBE (November 18, 1918 - September 9, 2007), was a Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was Lord Justice of Appeal and deputy Lord Chief Justice, and was President of the Welsh Rugby Union from 1993 to 2004.
Details
Born the son of a coal miner,[1] Watkins was born in the small town of Nelson, Caerphilly, and educated at Pontypridd Grammar School.
World War Two
A lieutenant in the 1/5th battalion, The Welch Regiment, he was one officer leading a group in Normandy post D-Day leading an assult on a Nazi machine gun post. After all the other officers were killed, Watkins continued to lead the group. The first Welsh man to be awarded a VC during the Second World War, his citation read:
On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, France, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his men, but decisively influenced the course of the battle.
Legal career
He later achieved the rank of major, and on leaving the army, entered the legal profession. He was called to the bar in 1948 and became a barrister at the Middle Temple. He became a QC in 1965 and in 1966 served as deputy to Sir Elwyn Jones on the tribunal into the Aberfan disaster. He became a High Court judge in 1971, the same year in which he was knighted. He was promoted to the Court of Appeal and became a Privy Counsellor in 1980. He later became deputy lord chief justice.
He served as president of the University of Wales College of Medicine for 11 years from 1987 and was president of the British Legion in Wales from 1947 to 1968.
Sir Tasker played Rugby Union as an outside-half for the Army, Cardiff RFC and Glamorgan Wanderers and became president of the Welsh Rugby Union in 1993, serving until 2004.
His Victoria Cross is on display in the Welch Regiment Museum located in Cardiff Castle.
He died on 9th September 2007 in Cardiff.[2][1]
References
- British VCs of World War 2 (John Laffin, 1997)
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- ^ a b War hero Sir Tasker Watkins dies BBC Wales News - 9 September 2007
- ^ Welsh hero Tasker dies at 88 icWales.co.uk - 9 September, 2007