Lot 4034

Description

Trio: Queen's South Africa Medal 1899, (type 2 reverse), - four clasps - Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Belfast, South Africa 1901; British War Medal 1914-18; Victory Medal 1914-19. 1870 Tpr. F.Bowman. S.Afr.L.H. on first medal, 20. Pte. F.Bowman. 52-Bn. A.I.F. on second medal, 20 Pte F.Bowman 52 Bn. A.I.F. on last medal. All medals impressed. Display mounted, with five grooves cut into the edge of each medal (see note) and with hairlines and some scratches, otherwise very good - fine.

Together with gold plated fob in the form of a 10-pointed star, obverse inscribed, 'F.B.', reverse inscribed, Tpr F.Bowman/929./I.B.C. (?)'; also South African Light Horse, Boer War slouch hat badge in handcrafted brass, version with Prince of Wales plumes at top, pin-back; pair of SALH titles, handcrafted in brass.

Note: Trooper Bowman later went blind and identified his medals by the grooves cut into the edge of each medal.

Boer War: Trooper Frederick Bowman, born 1876 in Tutwart, NSW; Enl.1899 in South African Light Horse, a unit raised in Cape Colony in Nov.1899 and disbanded in 1907. The unit had 600 Troopers formed into 8 Squadrons. Interestingly, Winston Churchill served in this unit for the first half of 1900.
WWI: as a 39 year-old labourer Enl.20Dec1915 at Townsville, Qld as Trooper A Sqn 14Refts for 14 LHR; to Pte 52Bn 07Sep1916; Emb.13May1916; WIA 07Jun1917 SW to right hand, France; to 4 Aust. Div. Army Ordnance Corps as Assistant Armourer 13Jul1917; invalided to UK with debility 07May1918; RTA 06Nov1918; Disemb.01Jan1919; Disch.11Feb1919; Died 1959 and buried at Mount Gravatt Cemetery, Macgregor, Qld.

With research including several pages from Service File.