POLICE are today remembering Warrington police officer PC Ian Watt who was killed in action 75 years ago today while serving in the army in the Far East.
PC Watt joined Warrington Borough police on 1st November 1938. He was subsequently called up for his national service and joined the Army Intelligence Corp. It was not long before he was promoted to Sergeant.
He was posted to Singapore on 20th August 1942 to 604 Field Security Section of the Intelligence Corp. which was attached to a Gurkha unit.
When WW2 in Europe had ended, fighting was continuing in the Far East.
On 20th November 1945 PC Watt was killed in action when his Gurkha unit was sent to rescue French civilians who were being held hostage by Vietminh forces, in total 1224 British forces lost their lives during battles with the Vietminh.
Because WW2 had officially ended PC Watt could not be included on UK war memorials.
With the help of the Army intelligence Corp PC Watt has now been included on the National Arboretum and last year his name was added to the Cenotaph at Bridgefoot, Warrington.
He is also included at the memorial at St. James Church in Warrington.
