A Tayside war hero who survived a Nazi torpedo attack and went on to take part in the Allied invasion of Italy has died at the age of 100.
Robert (Bob) Watson was one of the few people to have received a second message from the Queen, having previously had one on his 60th wedding anniversary in 2008.
Mr Watson was brought up in Milnbank Road in Dundee and attended Hawkhill School.
His father was a turner in Blackness foundry and his mother worked in a jute mill.
When he left school at first he was a delivery boy before securing an apprenticeship to become a joiner.
He joined the Royal Engineers in 1940 during the Second World War.
He was trained in bridge building, mine laying and clearance work at Kilsyth and then Fordingbridge.
He almost lost his life when his troopship was targeted during the invasion of North Africa.
On December 22 1942, Cameronia was hit by a torpedo off Algeria, which blew a hole in its side and claimed the lives of 17 people.
He was landed at Bejaia on Christmas Eve 1942.
It was there that he and his comrades spent Christmas before being shipped to Constantine and the front line.
He was then with the First Army in its battle for Tunis where his job was clearing mines for the combat forces to advance through.
In September 1943, he took part in the Allied invasion of Italy, landing by craft at Taranto and then helping to build bridges over the many Italian rivers, including the first bridge over the Po.
The move north was delayed by the fierce Battle for Monte Cassino but he did participate in the victory parade through Rome.
His unit finally ended up in Klagenfurt in Austria.
In 1946, he was demobbed and resumed his career as a joiner and worked on many building projects in the Dundee and Angus area.
He met his wife to be Ella when he returned to Dundee and the couple married on July 13 1948.
They emigrated for a brief period to Canada but returned in 1949 to Dundee.
They lived in Blackness Road, Fullarton Street, Dunholm Road, and Grove Road, West Ferry before finally ending up in Monifieth.
During his working life he worked for Charles Gray and Bett Brothers before becoming a building inspector with the local authority in Dundee.
He spent his retirement playing bridge and bowls with his wife.
They also enjoyed a number of overseas holidays.
Ella died on July 13 2012, exactly 64 years to the day after they were married.
Mr Watson is survived by his three sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
