George V Bestowal Document Appointing Major Nicholas Hugh Lawrence Watts, Indian Army as an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) 1929 (embossed Seal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire bearing Britannia surrounded by the inscription "FOR GOD AND EMPIRE" at the upper left, two level signature of King George V "Albert" at the upper right, with a notation in the column inscribed "(On behalf of His Majesty)", inscribed in running script: "George the Fifth by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, Sovereign of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire to Our trusty and well beloved Nicholas Hush Lawrence Watts Esquire Major in Our Indian Army / Greeting / Whereas We have thought fit to nominate and appoint you to be an Officer of the Military Division of Our said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire We do by these presents grant unto you the Dignity of an Officer of Our said Order and hereby authorise you to have hold and enjoy the said Dignity and Rank of an Officer of Our aforesaid Order together with all and singular the privileges thereunto belonging or appertaining. / Given at Our Court at Saint James's under Our Sign Manual and the Seal of Our said Order, this Third day of June 1929 in the Twentieth year of Our Reign. / By the Sovereign's Command. / Grand Master.", with the signature of HRH The Prince of Wales (who ceased to be Grand Master when he inherited the crown as King Edward VIII and became Sovereign of the order) above "Grand Master", inscribed "Grant of the dignity of an Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire to Major Nicholas Hugh Lawrence Watts, J.A." at the lower left, printed in black with the handwritten entries in black ink, on a thick off-white paper stock, measuring 318 mm (w) x 385 mm (h), single horizontal and vertical fold marks, lightly soiled); and
Queen Elizabeth II Commission Document Appointing Charles Laws as a Second Lieutenant in the Home Guard 1952 (the signature of Queen Elizabeth II at the upper left, large embossed seal of Queen Elizabeth II bearing her coat-of-arms at the far left side, inscribed in running script: "Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. To Our Trusty and well beloved Charles Laws Greeting! We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Loyalty, Courage and good Conduct, do Appoint you to be an Officer in Our Home Guard from the Thirtieth day of July 1952, and for such period as you may hold any appointment in that force of such status as may be determined by Our Army Council to require commissioned rank. / You are therefore carefully and diligently to discharge your Duty as such in the Rank of Second Lieutenant or in such other Rank as We may from time to time hereafter be pleased to promote or appoint you to, of which a notification will be made in the London Gazette, or in such other manner as may for the time being be prescribed by direction of Our Army Council, and you are in such manner and on such occasions as may be prescribed by Us to exercise and well discipline in their duties such Officers, Men and Women as may be placed under your Orders from time to time and use your best endeavours to keep them in good Order and Discipline. / And We do hereby Command them to Obey you as their superior Officer and you to deserve and follow such Orders and Directions as from time to time you shall receive from Us, or any of your superior Officers, according to the Rules and Discipline of War, in pursuance of the Trust hereby reposed in you. / Given at Our Court at Saint James's the Second day of October 1952 in the First Year of Our Reign. / By Her Majesty's Command", with two stacked signatures, the top one overlying the last line of text, inscribed "Charles Laws, Second Lieutenant Home Guard" at the lower left, printed in black with the handwritten entries in black ink, on an off-white paper stock, measuring 367 mm (w) x 272 mm (h), vertical fold mark, lightly soiled, with edge wear). Togther, very fine.
Footnote: Lieutenant Nicholas Hugh Lawrence Watts, 92nd Punjabis, was promoted to the rank of Captain, effective January 9, 1913, the announcement appearing in the London Gazette 28689 of Tuesday, February 11, 1913, page 1061. Major Nicholas Hugh Lawrence Watts, 1st Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, Indian Army was named an Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE), as part of the King's Birthday Honours of 1929, the announcement appearing in the Supplement to the London Gazette 33501 of Friday, May 31, 1929, on Monday, June 3, 1929, page 3673.