For the August HistoryFare monthly talk, we welcome guest speaker Major Phil Watson.
Phil joined the Army in October 1976 at JLR RAC as a boy soldier, and on joining the 9/12th Royal Lancers served with the regiment in Cyprus, Bosnia, Northern Ireland and the Gulf War. During this period he also served away from the regiment conducting two tours at the RAC Signal School as an instructor. In 1998, he was commissioned from the ranks, and was appointed the regiment’s first Regimental Career Management Officer. After leaving regimental duty he fulfilled a series of staff appointments at Chilwell, Bovington and Northwood, before returning to regiment duty to command Headquarters Squadron.
He left the 9/12th Royal Lancers in 2012 after 35 years service and joined Home Headquarters (HHQ).
He is a keen military historian, specialising in the First World War and is a published author. He remains as an adult volunteer with Lincolnshire ACF, after completing three years as the commandant for Leicestershire, Northampton and Rutland. In addition to his volunteer role with the ACF he is the Chairman of SSAFA Leicestershire and Rutland.
Phil will be talking to us about Second Lieutenant Charles Garstin who was only 20 years old when he was killed on 24th August 1914 in his first action.
Not only was he his regiment’s first officer casualty of the war, but Melton
Mowbray’s as well. Garstin is remembered in St. Mary’s Church, the town war memorial Edgerton House, and on the plaque at the British Legion.
Garstin’s family details are listed by the GWGC as being the son of Sir William Garstin of 17 Welbeck House, Wigmore St, London.
However, from the age of seven years old, he went to live with his great aunt, Miss Grant, at `The Lodge’ Melton Mowbray.
The presentation will look at Garstin’s family background, his reason for joining the 9th Lancers, and the circumstances leading to his death.