X 14258444 Sgt Ian James WATT, Intelligence CorpsBorn on 11 July 1918 at Echt, Aberdeenshire, theson of William & Elizabeth Watt.In 1938 Ian Watt joined the Warrington PoliceForce, eventually becoming a Detective Constablein the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).On 20 August 1942 he enlisted in the RoyalArtillery as a Gunner and was sent to 6 FieldTraining Regiment.On 4 December 1943 his police background led tohis transfer to the Intelligence Corps for FieldSecurity duties and he was posted to India,embarking on 12 December and arriving at Bombay on15 January 1944. He remained in training at theIntelligence Corps Depot at Karachi until 11 July(having been promoted to Lance Corporal on 8April) when he was posted to 604 Field SecuritySection in Burma in the rank of Corporal. 604 FSSwas attached to 20 Indian Division for the Burmacampaign, with members of the Section detached tothe various Brigades - with Corporal Watt beingdetached to 80 Brigade. On 12 September 1945,following the total surrender of Japanese forces,604 FSS emplaned with 20 Indian Division forSaigon in Indo-China. Corporal Watt had beenpromoted to acting Sergeant the previous day. During the anti-terrorist campaign he wasprimarily engaged on counter-insurgency duties.His successes against the terrorists caused themto proclaim him as their Public Enemy No. 1, andhe survived three grenade attacks directed againsthim personally. On 20 November 1945, he wasleaving a house in Saigon and about to enter a carwhen a lone assassin ambushed him. Sergeant Watt,age 27, was mortally wounded by a shot to thehead. His attacker was arrested within the hourand volunteered a full confession, latercommitting suicide in his prison cell. Sergeant Watt was originally buried in theProtestant Cemetery in Saigon on 21 November.Along with colleagues of his own and other FSSSections, members of the French military and theSurete also attended his funeral, as did the AreaDefence Security Officer, Brigadier D.E.Taunton.Soldiers from 114 Field Regiment Royal Artilleryprovided a Guard of Honour and two Gurkha buglerssounded the Last Post. In 1946 the Commonwealth War Graves Commissiondecided that the grave could not be permanentlymaintained and Sergeant Watt was re-interred atKranji War Cemetery, Singapore (Plot 25, Row D,Grave 14).