Who Dares Wins
1st May 2025
"An extremely brave and fearless commander as well as an outstanding tactician." Brigadier R. F. Semple in his recommendation of Lieutenant-General Sir John Watts for the CBE.
With a famously rigorous selection process, the Special Air Service (SAS) looks for seven characteristics in the ideal recruit: initiative, self-discipline, independence of mind, an ability to work without supervision, stamina, patience and a sense of humour.
In 1941, the Special Air Service (SAS) Brigade was formed by brothers David and Bill Stirling in North Africa to conduct small scale guerrilla operations across enemy lines. The brigade achieved success and recognition for their daring raids but were disbanded in 1945 on the assumption that their services would not be needed in peace time. Within a few years, however, the SAS had already been reformed to aid counter insurgency operations and cold war threats in countries such as Malaya, Borneo and Oman.
It is during this period that Lieutenant-General Sir John Peter Barry Condliffe Watts came to the fore. Following an international education that spanned North West India, the USA and UK, by 1958 Watts was a recently commissioned captain serving with 22 Special Air Service Regiment in counter-terrorism operations in Borneo. As commander of B-Squadron he took his troops deep into the jungle to conduct a series of raids against communist guerillas. He led with great courage and was mentioned in dispatches following this tour.
His style of leading ‘from the front’ served as a precursor to an audacious operation in Jebel Akhdar, Oman which saw Watts awarded the Military Cross. A rebellion in the interior of the country against the authority of Sultan Said bin Taimur had been put down with British help in 1957, but the ringleaders and their hard-core followers had fled to the Jebel Akhdar, an elevated plateau surrounded by cliffs at 8,000 feet. In 1958, SAS forces were called in but the terrain presented a tough challenge for soldiers trained for jungle warfare and tired after operations.
Watts’ ingenious planning saw his squadron blockade known routes up the Jebel and feed bogus information to donkey drivers who were responsible for bringing supplies to the rebels. Events culminated in a perilous, surprise attack that saw Watts and the rest of D Squadron scaling ropes up a near vertical cliff face in moonlight to reach the high plateau. With support from 18 Troop led by Sir Peter de la Billiere, the Sultan’s Armed Forces and various British Army attachments, the operation was a success and the rebels were largely captured or dispersed.
Lieutenant-General Sir John Watts continued a successful career that saw him return to Oman first in 1970 and again in 1979 when he was personally requested by the Sultan to command his land forces.
Ned Cowell, Head of Arms & Armour, Medals & Coins said, “John Peter Barry Condliffe Watts (1930-2003) was a gallant soldier and an exemplary special forces officer and is a towering figure in the post-war history of the SAS. He excelled at all levels of command, combining fearlessness, fortitude and tactical acuity with exceptional leadership qualities and uncommon powers of diplomacy.”
Arguably, the characteristics of the highly decorated Sir John Watts was key to the survival of the new generation SAS fighting force, through his displays of courage, leadership and SAS attributes listed above. His rare and historically important group of awards are included in the upcoming Medals & Coins, Arms & Armour sale on 3rd June with a pre-sale estimate of £40,000-£60,000 (before fees).
