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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 275

(x) Pair: Quartermaster Sergeant J. Bowen, 75th Regiment of Foot, noted for his gallantry during the Siege of Delhi during which several comrades were awarded the Victoria Cross

Indian Mutiny 1857-59, 1 clasp, Delhi (Colr. Serjt. Josh. Bowen, 75th. Regt.); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R. (2730 Qr. Mr. Serjt. Josh. Bowen 75th. Foot), light contact marks and wear, nearly very fine (2)

Joseph Bowen was born around 1830 at Aymestry, near Leominster. He attested for the 75th Regiment of Foot on 4 April 1847 aged 17 years and 11 months, the Numerical Roll of the Seventy Fifth Regiment - presently in the Library of the Regimental Museum at Aberdeen - adding that he maintained a fresh complexion, with grey eyes and light brown hair.
Clearly a good and reliable soldier, he moved swiftly up the ranks and was promoted Colour Sergeant on 18 September 1855; Bowen served at the Siege of Delhi and is confirmed on the roll for clasp. Interestingly, his gallant conduct during the Siege was noted in The Life of a Regiment, Vol. II:

'The Regimental Orders of 16th June brought to notice the gallant conduct in the actions of June 8th, 12th, and 15th, of Sergeant-Major R. Wadeson (later awarded the V.C.), Quartermaster-Sergeant E. Courtney, Colour-Sergeant C. Coughlan (later awarded the V.C.), Colour-Sergeant M. Welsh (later awarded the D.C.M.), Colour-Sergeant J. Bowen, Sergeant T. Colloran, Sergeant T. Exton, Private J. Fullalove and J. Woods.'

Bearing in mind the awards to his contemporaries of the same rank, it seems unfortunate that Bowen was not decorated for his bravery during the Siege when the regiment suffered 285 casualties in total, including 75 killed and a further 29 later dying of wounds (Ian Tavender's Casualty Roll for the Indian Mutiny 1857-59, refers). He was, however, promoted Quartermaster Sergeant on 3 July 1860 and Quartermaster on 29 May 1869, witnessing further service in India and Gibraltar, before dying at Natal on 5 April 1874; sold with copied service record and extensive research which notes the award of his L.S. & G.C. Medal on 26 October 1866 and the possibility that he followed in the footsteps of a brother, Richard Bowen, who enlisted for the 75th Regiment of Foot five years earlier, but died of cholera on 1 September 1849 in the East Indies.


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Sold for
£750

Starting price
£400