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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 558

The C.V.O., C.B.E., M.C. group of eleven awarded to Colonel W. A. T. Bowley, Royal Warwickshire Regiment and Dorset Regiment, he earned no less than six 'mentions' during the Great War and was Personal Military Secretary to Winston Churchill, 1918-19, latterly being Assistant Adjutant-General at Aldershot, 1933-36

The Royal Victorian Order, C.V.O., Commander’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamel, the reverse officially numbered ‘C948'; The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, C.B.E. (Military) Commander’s 1nd type neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Military Cross, G.V.R.; Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1902 (Lieut. W. A. T. Bowly R. Warwick. Rgt.), unofficial rivets and top clasp adapted; 1914 Star, clasp (Capt. A. T. Bowly. Dorset. R.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Lt. Col. W. A. T. Bowly.); Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division Badge; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, with bronze Palme on riband, Medals cleaned and a little polished overall, nearly very fine (11)

C.V.O. London Gazette 13 July 1935.

C.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

M.C. London Gazette 18 February 1915.

Belgian Order of Leopold London Gazette 24 September 1917.

Belgian Croix de Guerre London Gazette 11 March 1918.

M.I.D. London Gazette 19 October 1914, 17 February & 22 June 1915, 1 January 1916, 11 December 1917, 20 May 1918.

William Arthur Travell Bowly was born on 18 April 1880 and was educated at Winchester and Oxford, being commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and thence serving with his unit in South Africa in 1902. Advanced Lieutenant in 1905, he was made a Captain in the Dorset Regiment in 1912 and served with them in France from 20 August 1914. Bowly was soon recognised as a proficient Staff Officer and was made Aide-de-Camps to the OC 2nd Corps and then the 2nd Army in France as 1915 begun. His M.C. came for the period up until February 1915 thus his actions during 1914 would surely have contributed to the award of his first decoration. He latterly served as a General Staff Officer 2nd Grade to IV Corps and 37th Division in France from 1916-18. Bowly thence became Personal Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War from 1918-19, no less than Winston Churchill. Little mention of his exploits should be required here but it is fair to say Bowly would have come into regular close contact with this titanic historical figure.

Made Brigade Major of the Warwickshire Infantry Brigade, 1921-22, another period at the War Office followed, before his appointment to Command the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 1930-33. Bowly thence went up to become Assistant Adjutant-General at Aldershot Command, 1933-36, which included the Silver Jubilee Review of troops by The King, for which his C.V.O. was conferred in July 1935. Retired in 1937, he was Commandant of the Duke of York Royal Military School, 1937-45 and was a Deputy-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire in 1953. Living at Orchard House, South Cerney, the Colonel, who lost his son during the Second World War, died on 24 October 1957.

For the Medals of his son, please see Lot 309.

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Sold for
£3,200

Starting price
£1400