Philip Watson

Philip Watson enlisted as a boy soldier in 1977 into the 9th/12th Royal Lancers, and left the regiment in 2012, having been the officer commander HQ Squadron, a period of service which spanned 35 years and many operational tours. He became interested in regimental history during his time in the WOs’ and Sgts’ Mess having been responsible for the silver or chattels for the whole period of time he was in the mess, while at regimental duty. His main area of interest was the detail around the regimental day; Mons/Moy, which commemorated the last mounted lance actions of the regiment during the Retreat from Mons. After accumulating a wealth of information over 19 years, his first book “The Last Charges” was published by the regimental trustees in 2016. After he left the army, he became the Assistant Regimental Secretary of the Royal Lancers, and is currently an adult volunteer with the Army Cadet Force.