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Auction: 23001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 188

Six: Chief Petty Officer E. C. Bowsher, Royal Navy, later Chief Coastguard, who saw convoy duty aboard H.M.S. La Malouine, a French warship seized after the Fall of France

1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.VI.R. (JX.127470 E, C. Bowsher. P.O. H.M.S. La Malouine), mounted as worn, pitting and contact marks, very fine and this last rather unusual named to a French vessel (6)

Ernest Charles Bowsher was born in Malborough, Wiltshire on 15 May 1911 and enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Boy Class II on 15 July 1926. He saw service with H.M.S. Emperor of India and later Emerald, reaching his majority with the latter on 15 May 1929, being appointed Ordinary Seaman. He served on a number of vessels before the outbreak of the Second World War, including Sabre, Acheron and Boadicea. Finding himself aboard H.M.S. Barham on the outbreak of war with the rank of Petty Officer, Bowsher was still with her when she collided with - and sank - her escort H.M.S. Duchess on 12 December 1939.

Posted ashore on 22 May 1940 Bowsher was sent to H.M.S. Nile for service with La Malouine, a French vessel which was refitting in Portsmouth upon news of the French surrender - the British Government seized her (along with her consorts) and took them into the Royal Navy. Most unusually, for the rest of the war she was to fly both the Union Jack and Tricolore. La Malouine spent the next few years on Arctic convoys, even taking part in the infamous PQ17. Next posted to the Mediterranean, she participated in further convoy protection duties there as well as a number in the Atlantic. Bowsher was promoted Chief Petty Officer with her on 29 October 1944.

Continuing to serve post-war (mostly ashore) he was released on 14 November 1952. Bowsher joined the Coastguard upon retiring, becoming Chief Coastguard of Collieston, Aberdeenshire. While here the Daily Mirror reported upon an unusual occurrence. Bowsher had married a local women by the name of Edna in 1950, and had a number of children with her - however in the winter of 1958 he discovered that she had since married again, to a Sergeant in the Royal Marines named Donald Farley; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£110