With the onset of the Second World War, he joined the army in 1939. His initial service with the Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry, with which he served until 1941. In 1942, he joined the South Lancashire Regiment (PWV) 2/4 Battalion, which in 1943 became the 13th (Lancashire) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (AAC).

From 1943 to 1945 he served with 13th (Lancashire) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. On 6 June 1944, he parachuted in to Normandy as 'Operation Overlord' began serving as Platoon Commander and Second in Command of 'A' Company. He saw continuous service throughout the campaign before returning to Britain as Commander of 'A' Company in Sept 1944. Maj Watson was soon back into active service during the Ardennes and Holland campaign (the 'Battle of the Bulge'). During the Battle of Bure (3-6 Jan 1945) he was awarded the Military Cross. Following a brief return to Britain he once more parachuted into action during 'Operation Varsity' - Rhine Crossing and fought his way as Commander of 'A' Company across Northern Europe to the Baltic.

After the war, he served as Company Commander between 1945 and 1950 in the UK, Palestine, Airborne Forces Depot, Demonstration Coy, and at RAF Netheravon, Wiltshire. During this time, in 1946 he gained a regular commission from AAC to the West Yorkshire Regiment (PWO) whilst continuing to serve The Parachute Regiment. During 1950 to 1953 he served as Adjutant of 1st Battalion, West Yorks in Austria and the Canal Zone, where he later, from 1953 to 1954, became a Company Commander in 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment. From 1954 to 1957 he was Staff Officer of Infantry and Officer Commanding Airportability Wing, AATDC, RAF Old Sarum, Wiltshire. His final army appointment during 1957 to 1958 saw him become Company Commander, 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment in the UK, before his retirement from military service in 1958.

Entering civilian employment later that year, he worked for J Lyons and Co Ltd (later Allied Lyons) until 1982 when he became Counsellor for the Allied Lyons/Allied Domecq Pension Fund.

Concurrently, he became the Leader of the Annual Airborne Normandy Pilgrimage and similar programmes which included visits to the Ardennes and Rhine Crossing locations, a position he holds to this day. During this time he also became President of Airborne Assault Normandy Trust (AANT).

In 1992, he was awarded the Colonel Commandant's Commendation. This was followed in 2001 by the Fishmongers Trophy annual award by the Guild of Fishmongers to individuals who have made a distinctive contribution to The Parachute Regiment. In 2005, he was awarded Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur and made Honorary Citizen of Bure and Tellin in the Ardennes whilst in 2006 he was also made an Honorary Citizen of Ranville, Normandy.

Among the list of those who bravely parachuted into the dark skies over Normandy on D-Day, the name of Major Jack Watson always stood out.

He returned to the scene of the Allies’ greatest triumph year after year to preserve the memory of those who took part in Operation Overlord but never made it home.

And yesterday, after his death at the age of 94, Major Watson was finally added to that illustrious roll call.

The decorated officer played a vital role in the first few hours of the D-Day assault on June 6, 1944. After Pegasus Bridge was captured he helped liberate Ranville, the first French village to be lifted from Nazi control, and then returned to defend Pegasus Bridge. As the platoon’s second-in-command he led the successful attack on the German garrison.

But Major Watson always led from the front.

From the moment he joined up at the onset of war in 1939 through to the very end, Major Watson saw continuous service.

His courage earned him the Military Cross in 1945 when, during the Battle of the Bulge, his Company came under attack by German machine guns and mortars.

Ignoring the barrage, he ran up and down the line reorganising his troops ahead of the assault on Bure, in the Ardennes.

He then led his men several hundred yards down a slope and stormed into the village in spite of fire from enemy machine-guns in nearby houses.

He kept the Company moving forward, clearing the houses.

The London Gazette citation read: ‘Almost at once the enemy counter-attacked with Tiger tanks and infantry, but Major Watson immediately organised his teams and beat off the tanks.