the unit in 1942. Upon Japan's invasion of New Guinea on 21 July 1942 and the commencement of the Kokoda Track campaign, the PIB were the first Australian Army unit to make contact with the Japanese. Together with the 39th Battalion the PIB made up Maroubra Force which engaged the Japanese in the first unsuccessful defence of the Kokoda airstrip on 28 July 1942. Upon the death in action of the battalion commander Lieutenant-Colonel William T. Owen, Watson took temporary command and the led a fighting retreat back towards the village of Deniki, a mile or so back along the Kokoda Track towards Isurava. For his bravery and leadership during the withdrawal, Watson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. He was promoted to Major on 1 September 1942 and in that rank was the Commanding Officer of the PIB through till April 1944. Watson returned to the US after the war. From 1945 to 1952 he served as Australia's vice-consul in New York. He died in the Veterans Administration Hospital in Brooklyn, New York in 1961. Honours and awards Distinguished Service Order Military Cross (with bar) Distinguished Conduct Medal 1914–15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal 1939/45 Star Pacific Star War Medal Australia Service Medal 1939–1945 Footnotes References Fielding, Marcus (2019) Comrades in Arms and Rugby - The Remarkable Achievements of the 1919 Australian Imperial Force Rugby Union Squad, Echo Books, Australia. Howell, Max (2005) Born to Lead – Wallaby Test Captains, Celebrity Books, Auckland NZ. Sweeting, A. J. (1990) 'Watson, William Thornton (1887–1961)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 12 National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Fitzsimons, Peter (2004) Kokoda Hachette, Australia Johnston, George H. (1943) New Guinea Diary, Angus & Robertson, Sydney Collection (1995) Gordon Bray presents The Spirit of Rugby, Harper Collins Publishers Sydney External links Watson's service record at the AIF project Watson's ADB entry Fighting Retreat at Kokoda Australian rugby union players Australian rugby union captains Australia international rugby union players 1887 births 1961 deaths People from Columbiana, Ohio Australian military personnel of World War I Rugby union players from Nelson, New Zealand Rugby union props