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Auction: 22102 - Orders, Decorations and Medals e-Auction VI - e-Auction
Lot: 172

Great War Bronze Memorial Plaque (Charles Bowyer Highmore), good very fine

Charles Bowyer Highmore was born 1 December 1886 the son of Lady Annie and Sir Nathanial Highmore, G.B.E., K.C.B. of Cranley Gardens, South Kensington. He was educated first at Oxford Preparatory School and later at Charterhouse from 1900 - 1904 before following in his father's footsteps and passing the bar to find work as a solicitor. With the outbreak of war his father went on to serve in a number of roles including the representative of the Board of Customs and Excise on the Committee on Trading with the Enemy. Moreover he went on to serve as Secretary and Assistant Director of the War Trade Department.

Highmore meanwhile enlisted as a Private with the Artists Rifles in January 1916 before being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant with the Machine Gun Corps and entering the war in France on 23 April 1917. While serving near Monchy-le-Preux on 28 June 1917 he was struck in the stomach by machine gun fire and was invalided back to Britain. Here he attempted to continue with his legal career, purchasing a practice in Dorchester in 1919 however he contracted influenza and as a result acute pneumonia, dying on 26 February 1919. His former headmaster at OPS 'Skipper' Lynam wrote of him:

'Our losses to the effects of war continue to mount. Acute pneumonia, following an attack of influenza, has claimed the life of Bokins Highmore. […] At the OPS, Bokins was a most merry, lovable boy, full of the best sort of boyish mischief, with the kindest heart for his fellows and for all sorts of animals. He went on to Charterhouse in 1900 and thereafter he became a solicitor'

He was buried at Malden (St. John The Baptist) churchyard, Surrey on 5 March 1919. Further entitled to the British War and Victory Medals as well as a Silver War Badge (no. 383655). For the Nederlandsche Overzee Trustmaatschappij Silver Medal 1914-1919 awarded to his father see lot: 564.

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Sold for
£85

Starting price
£20