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Auction: 25001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 356

(x) The superb posthumous 'Amiens 1918' M.M. awarded to Corporal W. H. Bowen, 19th Battalion, Australian Infantry, who saw service at Gallipoli, was four times wounded, and finally killed in action at the time of earning his decoration

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1149 Cpl H. W.Bowen. 19/Aust.Inf.), very fine

Herbert William Bowen was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia in 1888 and enlisted on 10 March 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force. Posted to the 19th Battalion Bowen embarked with them on 25 June 1915 for Gallipoli where they formed part of the first wave of reinforcements after the initial landings. The unit landed on 21 August and were immediately thrown into the Battle of Hill 60, Bowen appears to have passed through this unscathed however he was wounded on 1 September 1915. A telegraph sent to his wife confirming this notes that it was not reported to be a serious wound.

Joining the evacuation of the Peninsula the Battalion was posted to the B.E.F. in France on 18 March 1916. They were soon in action during the Battle of the Somme at the bloodily contested front of Pozières, here the Australian 1st Division suffered over 5,000 casualties before eventually being relieved. Bowen was wounded here suffering multiple gunshot wounds on 28 July and being treated at the 44th Casualty Clearing Station before hospitalization.

Rejoining his unit on 9 April 1917 after an extended rehabilitation in England he served without incident for the rest of the year during which time the Battalion saw action at Bullecourt and Passchendaele. In the effort to resist the German Spring Offensive however he was again on the frontline and was gassed on 28 May 1918, necessitating another recovery process.

Finally returning to his unit on 13 July 1918 Bowen joined the action on 11 August 1918 during the Battle of Amiens. After his act of gallantry he was again wounded in action, the witness statement of Private H. S. Doohan, quoted in his service papers gives further details, stating:

'I saw Cpl. Bowen. D. Company. after he was wounded (think arm) at Framerville about 5 or 6 a.m. I was a runner and was going up to the position when I saw him. He called out as he passed me on his way back to R.A.P. He was a walking case. I did not see anything more of him. He had to go through the orchard to get to the Aid post and the shelling was very heavy. Bowen was big, broad, fair, reddish complexion, about 33 years.'

Bowen is commemorated upon the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial; sold together with copied research.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£600 to £800

Starting price
£480