Binoculars - (Binoculars, Prismatic No. 3 Mk II) Black paint on brass made by W. Watson and Sons Ltd., 313 High Holborn, London, 1916, serial number 54375. Etched on side: "G.D. Peacock / D121 RFA" [Royal Field Artillery]. 6 x 30 Power optical. Lt George Duckels Peacock's British Army Medal Card attached. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, BWM and Victory Medals. His medals were sent to Alberta after the war. W. Watson and Sons, Ltd of 313 High Holborn, London WC1. (The manufacturing works were situated in Barnet). Watson started business in 1827 and were well known makers of optical and photographic equipment. They had also assisted Marconi in his wireless ventures and were developing X-Ray equipment. Prior to the outbreak of the War Watson had supplied 2600 prismatic binoculars to the Army. On 22 June 1915 Watson obtained an order for 2000 No 3 (Mk unspecified ), which was completed by 31 March 1917. On 12 November 1915 there was an order for 500 No 2 Mk I’s with 427 delivered by 31 March 1917 and one for 5000 No 3 Mk I’s, less than 300 had been delivered by 31 March 1917. On 12 October 1916 there were orders for 2500 No 3 Mk I’s and 300 No 2 Mk I’s. Deliveries by 31 March 1917 were 303 and 220 respectively. On 12 November 1917 2000 Admiralty Pattern 343 binoculars ( 6 X 30 ) were ordered, none had been delivered by 29 December 1917. By 25 March 1919 1056 had been delivered permission was given to complete a further 90. The balance of 854 was to be ‘Liquidated ‘. Of the 800 No 2 Mk I’s ordered 772 had been delivered by 29 December 1917. On 29 May 1917 Watson received a ‘running’ contract for No 3 Mk I’s, 2488 were delivered by 29 December 1917, over 3000 were still due. 12 November 1918 the contract was terminated although the factory had material for another 1000. *** On 21 June 1917 there was a ’running’ contract for No 3 Mk II’s. By 29 December 1917 55 had been delivered and 830 were shown as being due. On 2 July 1918 there was a contract for 2000 binoculars, probably Admiralty Pattern 343’s. By 4 December 1918 760 had been delivered. On 6 December 1918 Watson was instructed to complete another 500. £1300 compensation was paid. It is possible there were other contracts as after the War Watson in its advertising claimed to have supplied 35000 binoculars. Watson developed a brass bodied binocular but it was not put into production. British patent No. 117847 refers. Some of their lenses were provided by the Guaranteed Lens Co. They had problems with fitting graticules. They also suffered a high rate of rejection from Woolwich mainly with faults with the glass. Like Kershaw Watson made binoculars in both Ross and Zeiss pattern construction. After the Great War, Watson continued to manufacture binoculars. In 1922 Mr Watson-Baker represented the British binocular trade giving evidence to get the Government to further restrict German imports of optical and scientific instruments. They failed.